Mercedes has record August sales

Detroit Free Press - Mercedes-Benz is reporting record sales of its luxury cars and SUVs in August, even though sales slipped in its home market of Germany.

The flagship division of automaker Daimler on Wednesday reported it sold 91,316 vehicles worldwide. That's an increase of 4.5% over the same month a year ago, and the most ever.

Mercedes had a big month in the U.S., where sales rose 11.3% from a year ago.

But it saw sales dip 1.2% in Germany because of model changeovers. A new version of the high-volume A-class compact is coming this month.

Sales growth was more subdued in the key China market, rising 2.8%, and in western Europe, which has suffered from a government debt crisis. European sales rose 1.2%.