(February 5, 2016) Mercedes-Benz started 2016 with record unit sales. In January, 150,814 vehicles were handed over to customers— an increase of 19.9%. The strong growth in unit sales was driven by record numbers in all three core regions Europe, Asia-Pacific and NAFTA. Growth last month was particularly strong in China, where unit sales increased by more than 50% compared with January 2015.

Mercedes-Benz was the premium market leader in the U.S., Great Britain, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Canada, Taiwan, Switzerland and Portugal in January.

Among the models, the SUVs made a large contribution with over 60% growth compared to the prior-year month.

“We continued the positive development of record year 2015 in January, and started the new year successfully. At the beginning of the year, our unit sales were particularly high in China, where we handed over more than 40,000 vehicles to customers,” said Ola Källenius, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Mercedes-Benz

Sales in the U.S. were 24,664 units. This means that the year started more successfully than ever before for Mercedes-Benz in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Moreover, in the U.S. and Canada, Mercedes-Benz is the premium brand with the highest number of new registrations.

Demand for the E-Class remains strong also shortly before the market launch of the new generation: In January, the E-Class was among the best-selling models of Mercedes-Benz.

The S-Class maintained its position as the world’s best-selling luxury saloon in the first month of the new year. The S-Class sedan was especially popular in China. Never before had so many S-Class sedans been sold in one month in that market in January.

Demand for the SUVs from Mercedes-Benz continues at a high level. Sales in January were 62.5% higher than in the prior-year month and rose to the new record of 53,966 units. In 2015, Mercedes-Benz renewed almost its entire range of SUVs. The new models have had an excellent reception from the customers: Sales of the GLC, the updated GLE and the new addition to the SUV portfolio, the GLE Coupé, were at record levels.