German Car Forum

Mercedes-Benz Delivers 500,000 Units of the New C-Class


OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

* C-Class sedan worldwide market leader since the beginning of the year

* New generation of four-cylinder diesel engines in the C 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Prime Edition

* 250,000th C-Class rolls off the assembly line at the Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen plant

Stuttgart, Germany, Nov 21, 2008 - Mercedes-Benz has delivered 500,000 new C-Class models from the 204 series to customers around the world since the vehicle’s market launch in March 2007. “The C-Class sedan has maintained its position as the worldwide market leader in its segment since the beginning of the year”, says Dr. Klaus Maier, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars. “Sales of the new station wagon continue to increase as well. In the first year after its market launch sales of the station wagon are 20 percent higher than the figure recorded for the predecessor model during the same period.” Around 440,000 new C-Class sedans have been sold since the model’s market launch, and over 60,000 customers have taken delivery of the station wagon version since that model’s introduction in the fall of 2007.

So Merc has finally toppled the 3er in sales? Who would have thunk.

Nice mark! This thing is selling like hot-cakes down here! They're getting very common these days!

It's a great car so that comes no wonder!

Pretty much everything is going against BMW this year. Hopefully the face lifted E90 will give the guys over at BMW good news. So lets wait and see if this was just temporary and if the success continue next year for the C-class.

BTW in US E90 is selling better Than C-class right?
In Europe Audi A4 is selling better than both 3-series and C-class.

Whoa this is a shock to me 500 K cars allready
and the biggest shock is the fact that its world wide market leader..

AMAZING..

Its well deserved..its a TRUE MB..with alot going for itself..

Kudos

^^^ Exactly, its a great little Mercedes-Benz.

M

I think it's because most people know the C-Class is a car that is both sporty and comfortable and has a lot of other positive traits. The 3-Series is very sporty and less comfortable and thus for all other people (aka non-enthusiasts who just want a comfortable car) the C-Class will be the more appealing car overall. Just a thought.

I think your thought is wrong. 3-series has sold more cars then C-class for many years but now of a sudden people think 3-series is not comfortable enough? 3-series isn't a sportscar and the comfort isn't horrible.

BMW are in a crisis right now and C-class is a pretty new car and a facelift for E90 is coming. Just wait and see and sales for E90 will be improved, I bet its just temporary.
In Europe Audi sell more A4's than C-class and 3-series, does that mean A4 is more comfortable than C-class and E90?

And the 3-Series sales domination was also based on so many variants, coupe and convertibles that the C-Class doesn't have or isn't counted as "C-Class" sales, at least in the U.S. Then again the CLK reaches higher in price than the 3-Series coupes and convertibles do.

M

Ok, maybe I am wrong.

Maybe we have a lot of former BMW 3-Series owners that are trying the new C-Class for a change. Or an A4.

My father who been driving BMW for many years was intrested in the new C-class but the sales people were ignorant and show no intrest in selling him a car so he went back to another BMW.

Sorry but i really dont get this point on this forum. What crisis are BMW in thats unique to them and different from what EVERY OTHER manufacturer is going through right now??

There is NO special secret to the C class sales! MB are simply realizing (all over again) what BMW and AUDI have known fro a bit while MB dropped the ball with previous models. And its a cardinal rule in business in general. And that's that: GOOD PRODUCTS SELL!
MB have always had that brand appeal, but a while back people started to realize that a lot of that appeal had gone out the window and what they were buying was the 'myth' of Mercedes Benz. This at a time when BWM and AUDI were steadily making their cars better, more sporty, more reliable, classier inside, even more comfortable. In short they were making more than capable premium alternatives. And the market jumped ship. A decade plus ago it would have been UNTHINKABLE for BMW to outsell MB.
Fortunately, Dr Z realizes this and MB are striving as hard a s ever to regain that reputation for quality and solidity again. AND the sales are returning. The W204 is the best C class ever. Period. And so far, most reliable

Good products sell. If you think its a fluke, wait till you see the numbers when the new E drops

The 3er is a comfortable car. I think that the success of the w204 compared with the w203 is because of the following reasons:

-A more fresh and striking design.
-Handling and steering feel on the same level as the 3er.
-Superb interior quality.

The difference between the w204 and a prefacelifted w203 is like night and day. I've driven the C32 AMG and it was absolute rubbish.

Great car

The local factory here has long waiting lists on the new C for several months ahead,the car is goin strong

Well, I don't think it's worldwide market leader at all. Not even by a long shot. They have sold more cars this year so far, not the total sales. BMW will make that right again with the facelift.

In South Africa since Launch, The 204 Has been in the Top 5 selling vehicles every Month without fail and has 4 the first time beaten the 3 in sales..

South Africa is also the 5th Largest C Class seller in the World, After Germany, usa, UK, and Italy.

Is there anyway we can compare C and 3 Sales Side by side by side in the different countries or regions...

How many 3s had Bmw sold alredy? e90?

Umm yes it is..read the press release

* C-Class sedan worldwide market leader since the beginning of the year


Now that ive slept for some hours this news is even more shocking..
I remember back before the new 7er arrived, i used to argue with ppl that how great it might turn out to be..it wont ever take the S in sales..
Just as the C ( a great car) cant take over the 3er in sales..

Guess what i was WRONG..!!!
Now the S vs 7er is the same deal.. or even worse for the S.. the FL is faaar off.. and i wonder if BMW can pull this kind of shit off at the other end of the market?

I wouldnt be surprised.. the world is uppside down these days...

PS
Why do you guys keep saying wait for the FL..isnt the FL allready out?

yes the facelift is out but just like a month ago and the sales just started in US. I say it again when BMW get their act together and times get better I'm pretty sure to E90 will be on top again. Drawbacks will happen sooner or later and now it has happen but it doesnt mean it cant change to the better again. C-class sold better this year and congratz to that but it doesnt mean this is going to happen every year from now.

Audi A4 is selling better than C-class and E90 in Europe. If the Audi had stronger image in US I think it would be the best selling car in the segment.

Can you explain that part please. And also, has the C class sales been as a result of BMW somehow 'dropping the ball' with the 3 series??

Yeah..what has BMW done ?
Or what crisis has hit BMW that havent hit the rest of the germans?

Im confused

No, I cant explain it. Talk to Eni about it or send email to BMW. I'm just a graphic designer, not a markeeting analyser. But I read enough to understand BMW are doing bad. All car companies are probably hurting now, just that some are hurting more than others.
Anyhow, this isnt the place to discuss BMW and how the company is feeling. Its neither posted in internal combustion and the thread is about C-class sales , not the company BMW.
Feel free to create another thread about the subject.

Bollocks. 1. You mentioned that, not me. 2. The thread is about MB C class sales, and consequently its rivals too. 3. Dont make statements you cant defend then.

I honestly dont even get why some members feel they have to defend 'everything' that's not to their liking thats mentioned about BMW on this forum.