Mercedes-Benz breaks 10,000 sales barrier in first half of 2008

Sales for June were 1,744, up 35 % from the 1,292 deliveries in the same month in 2007.

The S-Class continued to be the region's facourite German luxury sedan with 497 units delivered compared to 344 in 2007.

C-Class deliveries were up from 225 in 2007 to 426 while the popular mid-range E-Class continued to outperform its closest rivals with 410 units delivered compared to 379 the previous year.

'Beating the 10,000 barrier is a significant milestone for Mercedes-Benz,'said Frank Bernthaler, Director, Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars, Middle East & Levant. 'It proves that we have the best range of luxury sedans and SUVs at the right price.'

'Although we expect the market to slow over the next two months, we still have great plans for the rest of the year with refreshed versions of the ML-Class, SL, CLS and E-Class in the showrooms and our new compact SUV, the GLK, arriving at the end of the year.

'If we can maintain this momentum, I am sure that our ambitious target will be attainable,' he added.

Globally, the Mercedes-Benz Cars division posted considerable sales growth in the first half of the year.

Deliveries of Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart, and Maybach brand vehicles rose by eight percent in the first six months of the year, setting a new sales record of 668,100 units (January - June 2007: 617,700 units).

The Mercedes-Benz brand also posted a new record from January to June, with sales rising by four percent to 599,200 vehicles (same period last year: 575,700 units).