Mercedes-Benz is the world’s top premium carmaker

Mercedes-Benz is the world’s top premium carmaker

Mercedes-Benz is once again the world’s top premium carmaker for the second year running, following a robust performance throughout 2017. The crown was once held by BMW from 2005 to 2015. According to Autocar, the company sold 2,289,344 cars in the 12-month window, which translates to a 9.9% growth over 2016, spurred by strong demand from its key markets such as China, Germany and North America.

In Europe, MB delivered 955,301 vehicles (up 6.4% from the previous year), of which 300,000 were sold in its home country, Germany. More importantly, the company now leads the premium marketplace in Britain thanks to a 6.4% sales boost, giving it a 7.04% market share, ahead of Audi and BMW at 6.88% and 6.77% respectively.

In the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) zone (which includes the US, Canada and Mexico), the company sold 400,320 cars, up 1.3% over 2016’s results. Demand in the US was down by 0.9% at 340,000 cars, which Mercedes says was mostly due to the lower demand for saloons.

Mercedes-Benz is the world’s top premium carmaker

The C-Class was the most popular model in 2017

In the Asia Pacific region, Mercedes-Benz sold a total of 875,250 cars for an overall growth rate of 19.2%, more than half of which came from its most successful market China, where the company delivered 587,868 cars – a 25.9% spurt in growth.

The most popular models were the C-Class and its Estate sibling, with 415,000 units sold globally in 2017. About a quarter, or 103,750, of those were the long-wheelbase variant, which is only available in China. The new E-Class also did well, with 350,000 units sold worldwide.

Interestingly, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class – which is priced from RM1.35 million here – was bought by 25,000 customers, two-thirds of which came from China. As for its SUVs, China, Europe and US contributed to a 14% growth in sales for the company, continuing the growth trend from previous years.

Mercedes-AMG sold 131,970 cars in 2017, a whopping 33% boost over 2016. It expects continued strong growth for 2018, spearheaded by the new entry-level AMG A35 hot hatch, GT four-door saloon and facelifted GT.

Sales for Mercedes’ microcar-maker Smart however, dropped by 6.5% to 135,000 units, although it’s making inroads in China with a 9.8% increase over 2016.

Closer to home, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia will soon announce its full-year (2017) performance, so stay tuned for that. Meanwhile, go easy on the Herrnbrau, guys.

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Matthew H Tong

An ardent believer that fun cars need not be fast and fast cars may not always be fun. Matt advocates the purity and simplicity of manually swapping cogs while coping in silence of its impending doom. Matt's not hot. Never hot.

 

Comments

  • P1, Geely, VolvoCar, VolvoTruck, Mesidis > all

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 99 Thumb down 7
    • Zack bowtie on Jan 09, 2018 at 1:28 pm

      Hidden due to lowcomment rating. Click here to see.

      Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 112
      • Audi Fans on Jan 09, 2018 at 4:08 pm

        Exactly because people want to know who the Limo taxi driver is inside the Merc.

        The next time when they need to go KLIA or KLIA2 , they can call them instantly.

        Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 110 Thumb down 5
        • Volvo fan on Jan 09, 2018 at 4:38 pm

          Sour fish spotted. Work hard bro so you can change your P1 to XC90. From XC 90 you upgrade to Harrier.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 104
          • Sushi Sucks on Jan 09, 2018 at 5:49 pm

            Harrier is cheaper than XC90 as it is a Toyota ( a non premium brand )

            Then upgrade xc90 to Bentley SUV to be more appropriate !!

            Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 103 Thumb down 5
          • P1 is same same brother with Mesidis now. So P1, Mesidis… > all

            Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 72 Thumb down 4
          • common_sensor on Jan 09, 2018 at 6:21 pm

            Butul. P1 is same same with Mesidis. Both left signal stalk.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 38 Thumb down 1
          • Correct. Them Germans has alwiz been more logical than how jepunis does thing. Thank P1 follow logical Germans instead.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 49 Thumb down 0
          • Osaka boy on Jan 11, 2018 at 8:05 am

            2 years old harrier RV is 3 times better than 2 years old volvo.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 10
        • Since when Merc becoming P1 brother? Daimler already rejected 5% stake (for investment) offered by Gely last year!

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 33
          • Car sifu on Jan 10, 2018 at 5:16 pm

            Many volvo keyboard warrior simply make up stories here bro. Sales is hard

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 8
      • It is not an envy of success but rather a car with an image more towards as a Limousine or Taxi car .

        Many premium cars do cost the same with a Mercedes nowadays depending on the models .

        Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 96 Thumb down 2
        • dimitriy on Jan 09, 2018 at 6:15 pm

          Deswai grey importers sell less Mercedes nowadays..

          Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 91 Thumb down 0
  • thepolygonal on Jan 09, 2018 at 11:07 am

    Seriously their design is good. Some luxury buyer only care about the design… I mean look at that grill…. looks like diamond infused. In the eyes of lord of the ring, Merc is like Elven design, BMW a bit like Uruk hai, while audi can play dwarf.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 79
    • shawal on Jan 09, 2018 at 12:41 pm

      Mercedes and P2 amazing Golden era! Wealthy and smart minds think alike..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 78
    • whaler on Jan 10, 2018 at 1:18 pm

      The Mercedes grill actually looks like a status symbol of a taxi coming from far

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 45 Thumb down 0
  • tokmoh. on Jan 09, 2018 at 11:29 am

    Syukur Geely beli Daimler, tumpang untung sekali.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 25
  • After 10 years, BMW gives Mercedes some chance lah..if not very boring of winning.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 73 Thumb down 108
  • It must be because of taxi sales like protons

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 117 Thumb down 1
  • reliability is rubbish, premium badge only

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 116 Thumb down 3
  • Matjava on Jan 09, 2018 at 1:06 pm

    Merc maintenance cost is no MERCy..

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 109 Thumb down 3
    • 12yrsold on Jan 10, 2018 at 12:35 pm

      Yes. Merc E250(2010 model) timing chain cost almost RM10k. That also change from Merc specialist. I wonder how much it will cost if change it in C&C or Hap Seng ??

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 75 Thumb down 0
  • heybadigol (Member) on Jan 09, 2018 at 2:08 pm

    Considering how boring new Beemers and Audis look like (they all look 90% like their predecessors), it was pretty much an easy win for MB. Having said that, Volvo is making some really nice cars of late. No mention of how much their sales went up?

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 97 Thumb down 2
    • Volvo fan on Jan 09, 2018 at 4:40 pm

      Not a single s90 can be seen on the road. See so much more VW passat then volvo.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 88
      • Reboot on Jan 09, 2018 at 5:55 pm

        Cos VW Passat is a cheaper car to buy and own backed by VW easy finance.

        Hence, many middle class got not option but to settle for this VW despite facing problems later.

        On the other hand , S90 is quite new in the market and it cost twice the price of Passat due to premium brand.

        The ownership of S90 will be rather big when time comes !! otherwise get the Taxi image Mercedes

        Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 95 Thumb down 4
        • Garmin kid on Jan 09, 2018 at 11:37 pm

          2 years old VW passat is same value at 2 years old s90. VW feels more premium also Mr.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 84
          • Simon on Jan 10, 2018 at 6:32 am

            joke of the century

            currently VW Passat and golf list almost 60% of their original purchase price after using for four years

            so how can it be same value with s90 when the purchase price is double that of any Passat and golf.

            Further more , I never heard off any international car reviewers ever mentioned VW is a premium car. it is just another people car for middle income only.

            For you it feels premium in owning a VW in Malaysia but the majority always consider VW as A Proton from Germany.

            VW is never a match or is not a premium brand . Truly and stately Volvo is the premium badge and it really feel that sense of premium over any VW even before owning or buying it .

            Buyers are not dumb only you.

            Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 88 Thumb down 0
          • Simon on Jan 10, 2018 at 6:42 am

            sorry typo error

            list = LOST

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 0
          • Chris Jeremey on Jan 10, 2018 at 5:02 pm

            Why no see volvo on the road? Now still under FA? Can advise?

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 10
  • observer on Jan 10, 2018 at 1:16 pm

    Most of the E Class and S Class in Malaysia are use as limousines , Hired Cab and Car Rentals.

    The C class are use mostly by Ah Bengs, Car Rentals and Uber drivers or as private airport taxis.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 61 Thumb down 1
  • This brand will forever be reserved for the rich Malaysians among us. Mercedes means either they have made it in life or owe the Bank and loansharks loads of cash or in deep debt. Maintaining one will be expensive for sure compared to Honda or Nissan models for example.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 32 Thumb down 13
    • Simon on Jan 11, 2018 at 8:16 am

      Mercedes shall always be or forever be a Taxi image brand reserved either you are rich or not .
      Most car maintenance are not cheap nowadays not necessary if it is a Mercedes or not… period !!!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 33
  • Chris Jeremey ,

    Your queries as below:-

    Why no see volvo on the road?
    Because you did not wash your face , wear your spectacle and open your eyes !!

    Now still under FA?
    In Klang valley it can be either under FA or Clear Marque or Sismo Auto

    Can advise?
    Already advise , Please open your eyes widely in the future as there are so many VOLVO xc90 , XC60 , V40 on the roads.

    Cheers

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 0
  • Audi Fans on Jan 11, 2018 at 10:36 pm

    Osaka Boy !!

    Please compare your Toyota harrier with your Mazda CX3 . Both are Non Premium Japs car . Perhaps your harrier RV is 3 X better than your CX3 . Perhaps Toyota harrier RV is 2 X times more than that of Toyota Lexus

    Volvo is a premium brand and it is a waste of time comparing anything with those of your non premium Toyota Harrier or Mazda CX3.

    Please compare Premium to Premium brand
    and also compare Non Premium with Non Premium brand !!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
  • Car Cigku on Jan 11, 2018 at 10:45 pm

    Car Sifu,

    There is no Volvo key board warriors here .

    You are just the only Rat Tat tat mazda CX3 warrior .

    I know sales are hard for your non premium Mazda CX3 right now !! Something you should be worrying if you are the Mazda sales person .

    Volvo sales are inching upwards easily and no need for you to worry about !

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
 

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