MERCEDES-BENZ MALAYSIA CONTINUES TO ENJOY GOOD SALES MOMENTUM IN Q1 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 (Bernama) -- Mercedes-Benz Malaysia recorded 13 per cent increase in overall sales for passenger and commercial vehicles for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.

The company said passenger car sales grew to 1,226 units from 1,089 units in the same period last year, marking a noteworthy milestone as the best first quarter performance since 2003.

"Demand for our cars in the first quarter of 2011 mirrors our expectations for another positive performance for the rest of the year," said president and chief executive officer Roland S. Folger in a statement.

Folger said continuing overall positive sentiment in the market had
certainly been an encouraging influence on the automotive industry including on Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.

"Early this year, we proactively implemented strategies to support a more robust marketplace and higher consumer demand by stepping up production at our plant in Pekan,” he added.

Meanwhile, the overall performance of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s commercial vehicle segment increased by six per cent in the first quarter of this year as compared to the same quarter last year.

It said the gradual pick up of commercial vehicles at ports and improvements in the logistics industry contributed to better truck sales.