Mercedes-Benz USA Reports Best August Sales Ever

MONTVALE, N.J. - September 1, 2006: Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported its highest August on record with sales of 20,602 new vehicles, an increase of 6.9 percent over last August. This brings MBUSA's year-to-date sales to 157,128 a 13.3 percent increase over year-to-date 2005.

August sales were boosted by the Mercedes-Benz flagship S-Class which rose by 105.9 percent over August 2005 (2,427 v. 1,179 units). The SLK-Class roadster also proved a strong summer performer with a 7.5 percent increase over August 2005 (834 v. 776).

Sales for Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the luxury light truck segment -- M-Class, R-Class, GL-Class and G-Class -- continue to demonstrate impressive gains with a combined 66.2 percent increase over last August and an 86.9 percent increase over year-to-date 2005 (41,394 v. 22,142).

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned program, MBUSA sold 4,221 vehicles in August, an increase of 15.3 percent over August 2005, bringing the year-to-date total to 31,482 units, a 2.7 percent increase over year-to-date 2005.

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/.

                            MERCEDES-BENZ USA
                           Sales -- August 2006

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

  C-CLASS        4,652     5,054      -8.0%     32,533    36,319    -10.4%

  E-CLASS        3,955     5,011     -21.1%     29,154    30,951     -5.8%

  S-CLASS        2,427     1,179     105.9%     20,244    10,280     96.9%

  CL-CLASS          54        88     -38.6%        435       832    -47.7%

  SL-CLASS         713       986     -27.7%      6,356     6,694     -5.0%

  CLK-CLASS      1,061     1,377     -22.9%     11,878    13,037     -8.9%

  SLK-CLASS        834       776       7.5%      7,921     7,647      3.6%

  CLS - Class      925     1,198     -22.8%      7,213    10,790    -33.2%

  R-CLASS        1,698       n/a        n/a     12,855       n/a       n/a

  M-CLASS        2,312     3,455     -33.1%     19,084    21,271    -10.3%

  GL-CLASS       1,894       n/a        n/a      9,002       n/a       n/a

  G-CLASS           77       143     -46.2%        453       871    -48.0%

  GRAND TOTAL   20,602    19,267       6.9%    157,128   138,692     13.3%