Based on first quarter numbers for 2018 that were revealed earlier today, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) looks set to improve on its record-setting performance in 2017.

The company sold 3,335 vehicles in Q1 this year, an increase of 13.2% compared to the same period in 2017, in which 2,945 vehicles were shifted. This was good enough to give it a 2.8% market share, a 0.5% improvement over that of Q1 2017.

It also announced that sales numbers in January and February were the best on record. In the first month of the year, 1,200 vehicles were sold, a 32% increase over that registered in the same month in 2017, while February saw sales amounting to 1,185 units.

The brand’s compact cars (A-Class, B-Class, GLA and CLA) had the biggest year-on-year percentage increase, the 596 units sold representing a 37.3% jump over that in 2017. Sales in this segment were led by the X156 GLA facelift.

The largest chunk of sales was however provided by the company’s locally-produced luxury sedans, namely the C-, E- and S-Class. A total of 1,965 units were sold in the first three months, an eight percent increase over the same period last year.

As for the brand’s SUV range, the 675 units sold in Q1 translated into a 13.6% improvement over the previous year. The Dream Cars range also chipped in, the 94 units shifted marking a 1.1% increase in volume compared to the same period in 2017.

“It was a stellar first quarter for us in 2018, our best ever first quarter, as we successfully sold an impressive 3,335 vehicles. We are pleased that our diverse portfolio of over 50 fascinating vehicle variants paired with our value-driven campaigns and engaging events continue to excite our customers and meet their diverse lifestyles and requirements,” MBM’s vice president of sales and marketing Mark Raine said.

The company also announced that its after-sales network also serviced 36,000 vehicles in the first quarter, an 18% increase over the same period in 2017.

Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia (MBSM), meanwhile, continued to grow its servicing portfolio to RM2.4 billion in Q1 2018, a RM200 million increase from the end of 2017 and a marked improvement from the RM1.9 billion it recorded in the first quarter of 2017.

As before, the company said that four out of every 10 Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold in the country were financed and insured by Mercedes-Benz Financial.