Mercedes-Benz Mid-East commercial vehicles half-year sales up 59 per cent

Mercedes-Benz truck and van sales from the period January to June totalled 5,518 compared to 3,488 in the similar period in 2004.

Sales of the highly successful Actros truck rose from 3,114 to 5,077, while increased take up of the Sprinter and Viano vans also helped to drive growth. Saudi Arabia was the biggest market for Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles of 16 tonnes and over followed by Kuwait and the UAE.

"Our sales continue to show that we are still the leading truck and van brand in the Middle East with a range of technologically advanced vehicles in each market segment that meet all the needs of increasingly demanding customers," said Roland Schneider, Director, Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles.

"With the transport market continuing to expand and the highly successful introduction of the Actros lowliner now running on a contract for Etihad Airlines as well as some significant bus orders from the Qatar and Abu Dhabi governments, I am confident that we will increase our lead in the transport segment in the second half of the year," added Schneider.