Mercedes-Benz sold more vehicles in the U.S. in April than archrival BMW, with increases reported for some pricier models like the SL-Class.
Sales for the Mercedes-Benz brand rose 5.8 percent to 23,635 in April, while BMW posted a 10 percent increase to 23,225 units. The April results extended Mercedes’ 2013 lead to 4,695 vehicles as the two rival automakers compete for the sales crown that BMW has held for two years.
Mercedes sales for the year through April rose 11 percent to 92,822, while BMW’s 2013 deliveries rose 6.7 percent to 88,127. The results don’t include Daimler’s cargo vans and Smart cars and BMW’s Mini brand, which aren’t considered luxury vehicles.
U.S. sales of VW’s Audi brand rose 14 percent to 13,157 in April, which was the 28th straight month of record sales. Sales for the year rose 15 percent to 47,343 units, with the Q5 SUV posting gains of 32 percent.
Starting at $105,000, the Mercedes-Benz SL recorded 938 deliveries in April, more than triple compared to the same month last year. The BMW 7-Series and the Audi A8 rose 69 percent and 30 percent respectively. Porsche sold 4,032 vehicles in the U.S. in April (+17 percent), a monthly record for the VW-owned luxury carmaker.
Toyota’s Lexus luxury division reported a 3.1 percent increase for April, to 18,091 units, with deliveries of the ES sedan and RX SUV rising 71 percent and 3.1 percent respectively. For the year, Lexus said it has sold 74,831 vehicles (+12 percent). Honda’s Acura brand reported a 14 percent increase to 13,899 units, while Nissan’s Infiniti sold 7,844 vehicles (+10 percent).
Cadillac sold 13,230 vehicles in April, with the new ATS and XTS sedans accounting for 42 percent of deliveries, while Ford’s Lincoln brand reported 7,615 sales, up 21 percent from a year earlier.
Jaguar sales rose 6.3 percent to 1,141 in April, with sister company Land Rover reporting a sales growth of 7.6 percent, for a total of 3,543 units.
By Dan Mihalascu
Story References: Bloomberg News
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