The FINANCIAL — Since the model’s market launch in Europe in April 2013, Mercedes-Benz has handed over more than 100,000 CLA to customers all over the world. Altogether, sales of the new generation of compact cars with the three-pointed star have reached more than 800,000 units. Since the beginning of this year alone these have included more than 250,000 A-, B-, GLA- and CLA-Class vehicles, according to Daimler AG.
“100,000 CLA and altogether 800,000 new compact models show very clearly that our model initiative in the compact segment is definitely hitting the mark”, said Ola Källenius, Member of the Divisional Board Mercedes-Benz Cars responsible for Marketing & Sales. “Month after month, these models are the most important drivers of our growth worldwide.”
As part of its growth strategy “Mercedes-Benz 2020”, the Stuttgart-based premium manufacturer is currently undertaking the most extensive model initiative in the history of the company, aimed both at retaining the loyalty of existing customers and, at the same time, at making the brand even more appealing to new target groups. The new compact car models proof: the strategy is bearing fruit. Particularly with the CLA and the A-Class vehicles, Mercedes-Benz is winning new and significantly younger customers, all over the world.
The CLA can demonstrate major successes in its most important single market, the USA. One in four vehicles in this model range is driven by a customer in America. Since the model’s introduction almost a year ago, some 27,000 CLA have been sold in the USA. It is the first time, a model is available for under 30,000 US-Dollar there. The CLA is Mercedes-Benz’s first compact-segment car to be on sale in the US. Thus the compact coupe is the brand’s new entry-level model. In the USA, the average age of CLA drivers is 45 and thus some ten years younger than American Mercedes-Benz customers across the full range, according to Daimler AG.
