What's all this about?
Mercedes-Benz is having a cracking sales year. In the first six months of 2016, it shifted 1,006,619 vehicles across the world - and in July it sold another 163,700 units, a 9.4 per cent increase on the same month in 2015 and bringing the grand total of Mercedes cars shifted so far to 1,170,389 - 11.7 per cent up on the first seven months of last year.
Wow, what's driving the success?
The E-Class Saloon and Estate models are strong performers, as is the company's range of SUVs - up a whopping 43.6 per cent on July 2015 to 56,297 units sold in July 2016, the GLC being the star attraction. Mercedes has also spent this year talking up its 'Dream Cars', such as the C-Class Coupe and S-Class Cabriolet, both of these newcomers helping Mercedes to realise July numbers of almost 12,000 coupes, roadsters and convertibles worldwide; this is a 19.6 per cent rise compared to July 2015.
Where is Mercedes doing its best work?
Growth is evident all over the globe, although Europe remains its strongest region - 68,990 cars sold in July, an increase of 6.2 per cent on the same month last year - and within that, it is the brand's homeland of Germany that continues to love its products most. A total of 167,299 Mercs have found homes in the first seven months of 2016, 6.9 per cent up on the same period in 2015.
How is Smart performing?
It too has had an upswing, delivering more than 10,000 cars worldwide in July for a 13.8 per cent increase. Mercedes also says the arrival of the Smart Brabus should further bolster the sub-brand's economic performance.
And presumably the Mercedes bigwigs are pleased with this influx of cash?
Who wouldn't be? Ola Kallenius, Daimler AG board member responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing and Sales, said: "The year of the E-Class and the Dream Cars has been progressing very successfully for us. The new E-Class Saloon is extremely popular with our customers. And we delivered around 12,000 of the Dream Cars to our customers in July. Our new models are strengthening the Mercedes-Benz brand while further rejuvenating the product range."
Matt Robinson - 8 Aug 2016