Highest Sales Month for the Year at 21,469 Brings Mercedes-Benz to an 18 Percent Increase for 2010

MONTVALE, N.J., Jan. 4, 2011; Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) reported December sales of 21,469 vehicles, its highest monthly volume of the year, bringing the company's 2010 total to 225,007, an increase of 18% over 2009.

Ernst Lieb, president and CEO of MBUSA said: �"Despite the challenges of a slow recovery, we see good indicators in terms of our sales volume throughout the model range. This is certainly due in large part to the customer-directed efforts we've undertaken here at MBUSA over the past few years and the extraordinary commitment of our retail network to provide an unmatched ownership experience. �As virtually all third-party indicators show, customers are confident about the Mercedes-Benz brand and we think that will translate to even stronger momentum going forward."

The 9th generation E-Class was the volume leader for both the month and year, with December sales of 5,638, bringing its annual volume to 60,922, a 41.4 % increase over its volume in 2009. �The C-Class , the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers, followed with monthly sales of 4,924 and a yearly total of 58,785, a 12.1 % increase over last. Rounding out the top three volume lines was the popular M-Class SUV which posted monthly sales of 3,783 bringing its annual volume to 29,698, a 15.1 % increase over last year.

Sales at the high end continued strong for 2010 with the commanding G-Class up 38.8 % for the year and the flagship S-Class sedan up 21.5 %. �The company sold 48 of its top-of-the-line supercar - the SLS AMG �€“ in December, bringing its annual total to 499.

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 6,338 vehicles in December, up 24.3 % for the month, bringing the annual total to 80,698, up 12.3 % over 2009.

MERCEDES-BENZ U SA Sales -- December 2010

Mercedes-Benz Passenger Vehicles	Dec-10	Dec-09	Monthly %	YTD 2010	YTD 2009	Yearly %

B-CLASS Fuel Cell	1	-	-	1	-	-

C-CLASS	4,924	4,849	1.5%	58,785	52,427	12.1%

E-CLASS	5,638	5,437	3.7%	60,922	43,072	41.4%

S-CLASS	969	1,165	-16.8%	13,608	11,199	21.5%

CL-CLASS	139	53	162.3%	1,035	1,220	-15.2%

SL-CLASS	173	245	-29.4%	2,385	4,025	-40.7%

SLS AMG	48	-	-	499	-	-

CLK-CLASS	-	219	-100.0%	585	7,150	-91.8%

SLK-CLASS	114	117	-2.6%	1,980	2,566	-22.8%

CLS-CLASS	250	87	187.4%	2,135	2,527	-15.5%

R-CLASS	257	171	50.3%	2,937	2,825	4.0%

M-CLASS	3,783	3,343	13.2%	29,698	25,799	15.1%

G-CLASS	84	73	15.1%	919	662	38.8%

GL-CLASS	2,026	1,894	7.0%	19,943	15,012	32.8%

GLK-CLASS	1,684	2,372	-29.0%	20,946	21,944	-4.5%

SLR			-	7	110	-93.6%

Maybach			-	63	66	-4.5%

TOTAL	20,090	20,025	0.3%	216,448	190,604	13.6%

*SPRINTER	1,379	-	-	8,559	-	-

MBUSA Combined Total	Dec-10	Dec-09	Monthly %	YTD 2010	YTD 2009	Yearly %

GRAND TOTAL	21,469	20,025	7.2%	225,007	190,604	18.0%
Mercedes-Benz and Fr eightliner Sprinter Vans are sold and marketed in the U.S. by Mercedes-Benz USA and Daimler Vans USA, respectively.*

About Mercedes-Benz USA

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States. MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse line-up in the luxury segment with 12 model lines ranging from the sporty C-Class to the flagship S-Class sedans and the SLS AMG supercar.

MBUSA is also responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans in the US. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com and www.mbsprinterusa.com.