E-Class Mercedes-Benz Delivers 1.5 Million units of the E-Class

[Merc1]

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

* The E-Class is one of the best selling models in the upper-range segment worldwide

* A total of around 12 million units of the E-Class and its predecessor models have been sold to date

* The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has been the epitome of safety, comfort, and quality for more than 60 years

Stuttgart, Germany, Dec 19, 2008 – Mercedes-Benz has delivered 1.5 million units of the current E-Class series to customers since the model’s market launch six years ago. “The current E-Class and its predecessor models have been the ‘heart’ of Mercedes-Benz for more than 60 years now,” says Dr. Klaus Maier, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars. “With its typical brand attributes that include safety, comfort, innovation, economy, and quality, the E-Class has delighted around 12 million customers worldwide across eight model generations.”

A total of 1,270,000 sedans from the current E-Class series have been delivered worldwide since the model was launched in 2002, while 230,000 customers have opted for the station wagon version. The most important markets for the E-Class are Germany and the U.S., each of which accounts for approximately 25 percent of total sales. The most popular E-Class engine versions are the E 220 CDI and E350, each of which attracts ten percent of all E-Class customers. Some 40 percent of all customers select a diesel-powered vehicle.

In 2007 innovative BlueTEC diesel technology was launched for the first time in a passenger car in Europe - in the E 300 BlueTEC. This European introduction was preceded by the launch of the E320 BlueTEC in the U.S. in October 2006. With BlueTEC, Mercedes-Benz has succeeded in greatly reducing emissions and ensuring compliance with the EU5 emission standard. Innovative BlueTEC technology has thus made the diesel engine one of the cleanest and most efficient drive systems in the world.

The “Germany - Land of Ideas” initiative of the German federal government and German industry presented Mercedes-Benz with an award in January 2008 for innovative research in connection with the brand’s introduction of BlueTEC technology to Europe. In addition, the E 320 BlueTEC was chosen “2007 World Green Car” by automotive journalists from 22 countries in April of last year. The current E-Class model series has received numerous other awards since its market launch in 2002, including an award for Best Car in the Upper Mid-Range Segment from Auto Motor und Sport magazine.

In the fall of 2006, the E-Class also clearly demonstrated its typical Mercedes brand attributes of exemplary safety, comfort, and economy during the longest long-distance diesel endurance test in automobile history: 36 E-Class cars went on a transcontinental marathon, with each vehicle driven approximately 14,000 kilometers from Paris to Beijing over 26 days. In this endurance test under extreme conditions, Mercedes-Benz once again demonstrated the top performance of its ultramodern diesel engines in terms of emissions, fuel economy, and reliability.


Mercedes-Benz Delivers 1.5 Million units of the E-Class



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[LaArtist]

Im amazed that the estate sells so much less than the Sedan..
I wonder if that also is the case with Audi..

With BMW i suspect about the same diffrence..if not more

 

[klier]

^ It's because taxi drivers take the sedan 19 out of 20 times. A half million of those E cars probably are taxis to begin with.

 

[cawimmer430]

^ It's because taxi drivers take the sedan 19 out of 20 times. A half million of those E cars probably are taxis to begin with.

Come on, you're exaggerating a bit here.

The E-Class is popular as a taxi because it is comfortable and durable and because Mercedes offers taxi packages for it. Audi and BMW offer a similar package for their A6 and 5er models but the taxi market is dominated by the E-Class. Traditionally Mercedes has dominated the taxi market because of the comfort-bias of their cars and reputation for durability.

And that's not a bad thing. It's great advertising and many people, particularly tourists, are enthralled to be riding in a Mercedes sedan. One American friend told me that while on vacation in Germany, his father was so enamored with the Mercedes taxis they rode in that it actually inspired him to buy one back in the US a few years later. See how these things can work out positively?

Or when you're riding in a Mercedes taxi with high mileages on the odometer that is enough to tell the occupant that the car is durable (therefore a quality product). I rarely take taxis but a few months ago I sprained my ankle while on a car hunt and took a taxi back to my place. It as an original W210 E-Class diesel (not sure which model because there was no badge at the rear) but the odometer showed almost 500,000 km on it - and this was primarily in city use (a tough environment for a car). Not bad for a car people deemed to be "inferior to old-school MB build quality).

Besides, many E-Classes (and A6s and 5ers) are also purchased by rental, police and business fleets. Be happy that's the case. It could be worse. These establishments going for a Lexus GS would be a nightmare.

 

[Centurion]

Only 1.5 mill? From all the E-class I have seen I thought that many more than that have been manufactured.