Mercedes-Benz USA Reports April 2006 Sales Best Ever

MONTVALE, N.J., May 2, 2006 -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported its highest April on record with sales of 21,270 new vehicles, an increase of 13.1 percent over last April, bringing year-to-date sales to 72,512 new vehicles, a 15.9 percent increase compared to year-to-date 2005.

Passenger car sales of 16,466 units showed an increase of 6.8 percent over April 2005. The strongest increase for the month (and for the year-to-date) was the flagship 2007 S-Class with sales of 3,033 units, an increase of 108.2 percent over last April. Another new model, the 2007 SL550, which arrived at dealerships in mid-April, boosted volume for its model line, which recorded a 22.2 percent gain over April 2005. Other strong performers included CLK-Class coupe and convertible sales of 2,202, a 14 percent increase over April 2005, E-Class sedan and wagon sales of 3,778, an increase of 1.3 percent over last April and SLK-Class sales of 1,202, a 23.7 percent increase over April 2005.

Sales for Mercedes vehicles in the luxury light truck segment -- M-Class, R-Class, GL-Class and G-Class -- continue to gain momentum as a group with a 41.7 percent increase over April 2005 and a 114.6 percent increase over year- to-date 2005 (16,918 v. 7,882). The all new 2007 GL-Class, the first European full-sized luxury SUV, which arrived at dealerships at the end of April, netted sales of 499 units.

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned program, MBUSA sold 4,055 vehicles in April, bringing annual sales for the year to a total of 14,506 units.

In 2005, MBUSA achieved its twelfth consecutive year of sales growth by setting the highest sales volume in its history with 224,421 new vehicle sales. Headquartered in Montvale, N.J., MBUSA is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found on the Internet at http://www.mbusa.com/.

                              April   April  Monthly   YTD     YTD    Yearly
  Model                        '06     '05      %     2006    2005      %

  C-CLASS                     4,037   4,496  -10.2%  14,017  16,965  -17.4%

  E-CLASS                     3,778   3,731    1.3%  12,437  12,660   -1.8%

  S-CLASS                     3,033   1,457  108.2%  10,651   4,933  115.9%

  CL-CLASS                       64     111  -42.3%     220     472  -53.4%

  SL-CLASS                    1,112     910   22.2%   2,953   3,362  -12.2%

  CLK-CLASS                   2,202   1,932   14.0%   7,790   6,522   19.4%

  SLK-CLASS                   1,202     972   23.7%   3,644   4,085  -10.8%

  CLS-CLASS                   1,038   1,805  -42.5%   3,882   5,700  -31.9%

  R-CLASS                     1,672     n/a      n/a  6,742     n/a      n/a

  M-CLASS                     2,590   3,248  -20.3%   9,447   7,455   26.7%

  GL-CLASS                      499     n/a      n/a    499     n/a      n/a

  G-CLASS                        43     143  -69.9%     230     427  -46.1%

  GRAND TOTAL                21,270  18,805   13.1%  72,512  62,581   15.9%