Mercedes-Benz sales hit record 1.29 million units in 2007

AFP, January, 2008

FRANKFURT (AFP) — German car maker Mercedes-Benz said Tuesday that the performance of its newest C class line had pushed 2007 sales to a record 1.29 million vehicles despite a slumping domestic market.

Overall sales gained 2.0 percent compared with the figure for 2006, parent company Daimler said in a statement.

Mercedes-Benz Cars comprises the eponymous brand along with Maybach limousines and the Smart city car brand.

Smart sales declined by 10.3 percent on the year to 100,600 units, the group said.

But business was brisk in emerging markets such as the Asia/Pacific region which reported an increase of nearly 10 percent at 143,000 vehicles.

In western Europe, still the group's biggest market, sales dipped by 1.4 percent to 778,000 units....