According to Mercedes Benz, sales are up 13 percent for the month of September, 2007. Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) officially reported their best September on record with total sales figures of 22,459 new vehicles. This is an increase of 13 percent over last September, September 2006. So far this year, Mercedes Benz USA has sold 180,265 units, a 1.8 percent increase over the same period in 2006.

Sales of the new 2008 C- Class boosted the volume-leading model line by 42.8 percent (6,052 vs. 4,238 units). Notable sales figures highlights for the month include a 14 percent jump in car sales (15,867 vs. 13,913) which was achieved by significant increases not only by the C-Class, but also the E-Class (up 21.4 percent), the Mercedes CLK coupes and the Mercedes Benz convertibles (up 29.5 percent), as well as the CL-Class coupe (up 575.6 percent).

Sales for Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the luxury light truck segment — M- Class, R-Class, GL-Class and G-Class — continue to demonstrate impressive gains with a combined 10.6 percent increase over last September and a 12.3 percent increase over the first nine months of last year (53,178 v. 47,354 units).

Through the Mercedes Benz Certified Pre-Owned program, MBUSA sold 4,390 vehicles in September 2007, which is an increase of 2 percent over September 2006. This brings the year-to-date sales figure total to 39,253 units, a 9.7 percent increase over year-to-date 2006.

Here are the official sales figures as reported by Mercedes Benz:

Model        Sept '07  Sept '06  Monthly %   YTD 2007  YTD 2006  Yearly %
C-CLASS       6,052      4,238     42.8%       42,236   36,771   14.9%
E-CLASS       4,993      4,112     21.4%       34,184   33,266    2.8%
S-CLASS       1,964      2,357    -16.7%       19,501   22,601  -13.7%
CL-CLASS        277         41    575.6%        2,672      476  461.3%
SL-CLASS        384        557    -31.1%        4,787    6,913  -30.8%
CLK-CLASS     1,247        963     29.5%       11,628   12,841   -9.4%
SLK-CLASS       396        702    -43.6%        6,067    8,623  -29.6%
CLS-CLASS       554        943    -41.3%        6,012    8,156  -26.3%
R-CLASS       1,018      1,276    -20.2%        9,917   14,131  -29.8%
M-CLASS       2,948      2,706      8.9%       23,960   21,790   10.0%
GL-CLASS      2,541      1,937     31.2%       18,498   10,939   69.1%
G-CLASS          85         41    107.3%          803      494   62.6%
GRAND TOTAL  22,459     19,873     13.0%      180,265  177,001    1.8%

For more information about Mercedes Benz vehicles, check out their website here.

The new Mercedes Benz C-Class has been unveiled by Mercedes Benz. According to Mercedes Benz, this new C-Class is an “impressive combination of ride comfort and agility is the hallmark ofthe new C-Class, which celebrated its world premiere today in Stuttgart. In front of some 600 international journalists from over 30 countries, Mercedes-Benz presented the remake of its biggest-selling model series, which sets a new benchmark with its vigorously elegant styling, state-of-the-art safety technology and versatile product concept. ”

Here’s more from the Mercedes Benz press release:

The new C-Class is the first Mercedes saloon to feature equipment lines with different faces. In the more traditional Elegance and Classic models, the star is, as before, to be found on the engine bonnet, while, in the avant-garde versions, the trademark is positioned in the centre of the radiator grille, as is typical in sporty models from Mercedes. “Starting already with the vehicle’s external appearance,” says Zetsche, “each customer can decide for him or herself where they want the emphasis to be.” With its distinctive styling, the new premium-segment saloon offers its own unique interpretation of Mercedes-Benz’s current style statement and makes the technological supremacy and quality of the new C-Class apparent at the first glance.

Latest safety technology for optimal occupant protection
Alongside its renowned comfort, the traditional strengths of the C-Class include the vehicle’s exemplary occupant protection. Thanks to its integrated security concept, the new model continues to lead the way in its class, with greater active safety being afforded, for example, by the adaptive braking system from the S-Class and the Intelligent Light System with five automatic lighting functions. A new era in safety and ergonomics is ushered in by the C-Class’s innovative instrumentation and control concept, which noticeably reduces the burden on the driver and prevents him or her from being distracted.

As far as passive safety is concerned, the new C-Class meets significantly higher standards than are required around the world by the various statutory regulations. The standard equipment includes seven airbags as well as active head restraints. In addition, the new C-Class – like the large Mercedes saloons and SUVs – is also available with the PRE-SAFE(R) anticipatory occupant protection system.

Wide range of economical and powerful engines
Customers can choose from a range of state-of-the-art four- and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. At its market launch in the spring, the new C-Class saloon will come in three petrol-engined versions (C 200, C 280 and C 350) as well as in a four-cylinder diesel variant (C 220 CDI). In the course of the year, Mercedes-Benz will extend the available range to include, among others, the C 320 CDI V6 diesel engine as well as two four-cylinder versions, the C 180 and the C 200 CDI. The development engineers at Mercedes-Benz have focused above all on improving the popular four-cylinder engines, the outstanding qualities of which now include lower fuel consumption, higher power output and superbly smooth operation.

In Germany, despite the rise in VAT to 19 percent, the gross entry-level price for the new C-Class is still below 30,000 euros, which means that, adjusted for inflation, the price level of the new C-Class is the same as for its predecessor, over two million units of which have been sold around the world since its market launch in 2000.