US sales: February 2006: German cars

[EnI]

Mb

Mercedes - Benz

17,356 (+28.4%) ... YTD 29,825 (+16.4%)


Mercedes-Benz USA Records Highest February on Record

MONTVALE, N.J., March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today
reported its highest February on record with sales of 17,356 new vehicles, an
increase of 28.4% over last February, bringing year-to-date total sales to
29,825 new vehicles.
Boosting the February volume was the launch of the all-new 2007 S-Class,
Mercedes flagship vehicle, which recorded 3,360 units, a 226.8 percent
increase over February 2005. Highlights for the month also included a 31
percent increase in volume for the CLK-Class family of coupes and convertibles
(1,911 vs. 1,459 units) and a 128.3 percent increase in sales of the luxury SUV
M-Class (2,155 vs. 944 units).
Sales for Mercedes vehicles in the luxury light truck segment continue to
gain momentum as a group with a 355 percent increase over February 2005.
In 2006, the company plans to continue to expand its presence in the luxury
light truck segment with the introduction of the GL-Class.


Chart: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/s...06/0004311380&EDATE=WED+Mar+01+2006,+12:11+PM

*****

Flying on the wings of S-class, M-class, and R-class.

They have sold more S-class in Februaty than C or E-class: 3,360 vs 2,976 vs 2,310 units!!!!

 

[EnI]

Vw

Volkswagen

16,329 (+21.3%) ... YTD 32,566 (+24.6%)


VOLKSWAGEN REPORTS FEBRUARY SALES – UP 21.3%

New GTI, Jetta and Passat help lead sales total
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Volkswagen of America, Inc. reported February 2006 sales of 16,329, an increase of 21.3 percent as compared to the same period in 2005 when sales were 13,457, making it the best February result for the brand since 2003.
Just recently launched, the new GTI recorded strong early sales, accounting for the majority of sales (1,303) in the Golf/GTI model line that was up a total of 105.2 percent from the previous year (1,785 versus 870 in February of 2005). Also of note, Volkswagen recorded a 10.6 percent increase and 47 percent increase, respectively, with its Jetta and Passat models. Attached is a breakdown of the models line for the Volkswagen brand in the U.S. for February of 2006:

Chart: http://media.vw.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=9854

 

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Audi

Audi

4,806 (-8.6%) ... YTD 10,890 (+5.4%)


AUDI OF AMERICA, INC. REPORTS FEBRUARY 2006 SALES

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Audi of America, Inc. sold 4,806 vehicles for the month of February. This is a decrease from the 5,256 vehicles sold in February 2005. For the second month in a row, sales for the A8 model line were up. The 391 A8 models sold represented a 15.7% increase over February 2005 sales figures of 338.
For the year, Audi sales figures are up by 5.4%. Strong sales of the A3 premium compact, A6 sedan and Avant, and A8 models have spurred the increase for 2006. With the upcoming launches of the Audi Q7 performance SUV, the next generation A4 and S4 Cabriolets, and the S6 and S8 performance sedans, Audi is looking towards another record-breaking sales year for 2006.

Chart: http://media.audiusa.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=9716

 

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Bmw

BMW

BMW brand: 19,328 (+5.3%) ... YTD 38,602 (+9.7%)

Mini: 2,690 (-14%) ... YTD 5,634 (-7%)
BMW + Mini: 22,018 (+2.4%) ... YTD 44,236 (+7.2%)


BMW brand, Certified Pre-Owned post impressive sales increases in February

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The BMW Group (BMW and MINI
brands combined) reported sales of 22,018 vehicles in February 2006, an
increase of 2.4 percent over the 21,496 vehicles sold in the same month of
2005. Year-to-date, BMW Group sales increased 7.2 percent, to 44,236 vehicles
versus the 41,260 sold in the first two months of 2005.
BMW Brand Sales
BMW reported sales of 19,328 automobiles and Sports Activity Vehicles
(SAV), up 5.3 percent compared to the 18,356 vehicles reported in February
2005. Year-to-date, BMW reported sales of 38,602 vehicles compared to the
35,203 reported in the same period a year ago, an increase of 9.7 percent.
BMW Automobile Sales
BMW's monthly automobile sales increased 16 percent for the month, due in
part to strong 3 Series and 7 Series sales, at 15,463 versus 13,341 in
February 2005. For the first two months combined, BMW automobile sales
increased 19 percent to 30,918 versus 25,952 reported in the same period last
year.
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Sales
February sales of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles were down 23 percent, to
3,865 vehicles over the 5,015 reported in the same month a year ago. Year-to-
date, sales decreased to 7,684 vehicles from 9,251 in 2005, down 17 percent.
MINI Brand
MINI Automobiles
MINI USA reported February sales of 2,690, a decrease of 14 percent
compared to the 3,140 sold in February 2005. MINI USA also reported sales of
5,634 for the first two months of 2006, a decrease of 7 percent over the 6,057
sold in the same period a year ago. Production at MINI's Oxford, England plant
was halted for an extended period in December and January for expansion-
related upgrades, resulting in lower inventories, which contributed to the
lower MINI sales figures in the U.S.

Chart: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/s...06/0004311548&EDATE=WED+Mar+01+2006,+03:43+PM

 

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Porsche

Porsche

2,700 (+20.4%) ... YTD 5,932 (+34.2%)


Porsche Cars North America Reports February Sales

ATLANTA, March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA),
importer and distributor of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne SUVs in the United
States and Canada, today announced its best-ever February sales in the United
States. The company sold a total of 2,700 Porsches, an increase of 20 percent
compared to February of 2005.
This record-setting performance was due to sharp increases in sports car
line sales. The Boxster/Cayman series sales of 870 units was 60 percent ahead
of the same period last year, while the 911 series total of 902 units was 31
percent greater than the February 2005 total. Sales of the Cayenne totaled 917
units.
"To have such a strong sales performance in our sports car model lines is
very impressive," said Peter Schwarzenbauer, PCNA President and CEO. "It is
also remarkable given the difficult economical environment as well as the
harsh weather that hit our major Northeast markets last month."

Chart: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/s...06/0004311416&EDATE=WED+Mar+01+2006,+01:01+PM

 

[EnI]

Comparisons:

Lexus: 21,127 (+7.1%) ... YTD 40,785 (+7.4%) More: here

*****
BMW 3er: 9,140 (+27.3%); ...... 7,500 of them E90 sedans (2433 of 330; 1,575 of 330i, 858 of 330xi)
Acura TL: 5,169 (-12.9%)
MB C-class + CLK: 4,887 (-10.8%)
Infiniti G35: 4,534 (-24.2%) ... coupe incl.
Cadillac CTS: 4,109 (-6.0%)
Lexus IS: 3,882 (+807%); 1,172 of them IS350
MB C-class: 2,976 (-26%)
Audi A4: 2,533 (-21.9%) ... cabrio incl.

*****
BMW 5er: 4.153 (+9.5%)
MB E-class: 2,310 (-11%)
Lexus GS: 2,049 (+5.2%)
Infiniti M45: 2,000 (+788.9%)
Cadillac STS: 1,740 (-13.1%)
Audi A6: 1,168 (-7.6%)
Acura RL: 712 (-49.6%)

*****
MB S-class: 3,360 (+226.8%)
BMW 7er: 1.428 (+26.7%)
Lexus LS: 1,015 (-50%)
Audi A8: 391 (+15.7%)

*****
BMW X5: 2.283 (-15.3%)
MB ML-class: 2,155 (+128.3%)

 

[LaArtist]

wow gr8 month for MB in the US.. things are looking better this year.. very happy

 

[GTA45E]

OMG, MB is on a roll with the S-Class here in the US!
No wonder their having problems keeping up with the option demands!
The other models are also doing very well, almost unbelievable!

 

[PHYBENZ]

It looks like it was a pretty good month for the R with almost 2500 untis sold! Well up from the dismal January numbers. Hope that stays on a role. The ML looks to continue to be a hit.

 

[EnI]

The other models are also doing very well, almost unbelievable!

Only S, M & CLK sales up (and R which is a new model), other models down 11to 64.6%!!!

The ML looks to continue to be a hit.

Not exactly. Before R intorduction new ML sells over 3k monthly. After R has been introduced, ML sales went down (with exception of December 2005).
Here: http://home.att.net/~fdmeloan/Mercedes-Benz_Sales.pdf

 

[LaArtist]

lol well other modells are old modells.. so thats why
besides the CLS and SLK.. all others are in for FL.. or change of modell

 

[GTA45E]

Only S, M & CLK sales up (and R which is a new model), other models down 11to 64.6%!!!

lOl, thanks for clearing that I`m guilty of rushing through stuff sometimes. I`m sure quite sure sales will bump back up with the f/l E-Class. The f/l CLK sales have really come up and the CLK isn`t a redesign. Thats why I expect this magic to happen for the E.

 

[RikfromBelgium]

I see S-class as only MB beating a BMW model or am I seeing wrong
X5 still king of te hill, amazingly
3 series, well nobody can touch that
5 series, well a lead that big, bring on the E facelift, it can take it.
7 series, well ya it's behind, we'll see how the S-class sales will stagnate after all the pre-orders get delivered.
and once again, another model too far for MB. After the CLS hurt the E, now the R is hurting ML.

 

[LaArtist]

You forgot the SLK
C is old 3er is new and strong as always
Lets see what happens with the E FL
....
Bring on the world nr´s now

 

[RikfromBelgium]

You forgot the SLK
C is old 3er is new and strong as always
Lets see what happens with the E FL
....
Bring on the world nr´s now

C may be old, but so is X5. And that's actually earlier due for replacement.

 

[PHYBENZ]

MB canabalizes it's own sales a little:

The CLS takes away from the E.
The R takes away from the ML.

What is really impressive though, is that the X5 is still selling that much. That is very surprising.

But the Z4 to sell 154 units is actually pretty pathetic.

 

[LaArtist]

well with so many modells the only right thing is to look at the whole brand sales nr´s imo

 

[GTA45E]

I see S-class as only MB beating a BMW model or am I seeing wrong

MB S-Class 3,360 (+226.8%)
BMW 7-Series 1,428 (+26.7%)
Lexus LS 1,015 (-50%)
Audi A8 391 (+15%)



It would seem the 7er sales would have improved with the f/l but that doesn`t seem the case. The Audi A8 is really taking a beating in sales.

 

[EnI]

But the Z4 to sell 154 units is actually pretty pathetic.

The model change (FL) occured in very late February , therefore such poor sales. March and april will be much more representative. But I guess some customers are wait for the Coupe.

It would seem the 7er sales would have improved with the f/l but that doesn`t seem the case.

FL 7er is selling better than pre-FL model.

 

[Merc1]

It is amazing to me how some draw so many (negative) conclusions from just one month of sales. The E-Class is likely slowing down production for a change over to the FL model. The C is just plain old, what else do you expect?

The CLS didn't take many (if any) sales from the E-Class last year. One month isn't going to tell you anything so conclusive as that.

How could the R-Class take sales away from the M when the M posted a huge gain for the month of Feb in the U.S.? They're both up so where are the sales being taken from? That Feb sales total for the R-Class is nearly the same number they posted in Dec 2005, which is always a big month for MB due to special leases.

A lot of you are forgetting that BMW is leasing the hell out of vehicles like the X5 to the point where they are much cheaper to get than the ML. In BMW's defense the Z4 is likely slowing down for the same reason the E-Class is, newer models coming/production slowing at the factory.

Both the CLS and E are down so how is the CLS taking sales from the E when they're both way down from Feb 2005?

M