Conspicuous consumption gradually is becoming socially agreeable again around the world, or so it seems. Germany’s auto motor und sport cornered Mercedes-Benz Cars sales chief Joachim Schmidt at the New York Auto Show. Schmidt said “we are probably going to reach a plus of more than 10 percent in global vehicle sales in the first quarter.” Why the sudden growth?
Of course, there is China. (Where Mercedes hasn’t announced March numbers yet.) Then there is the U.S.A. where luxury is back in vogue, and where Mercedes just booked a 28 percent increase in March. Demand for the E-class and S-class is especially strong in the United States and China, Schmidt said.
Back home in Germany, sales of Daimler’s luxury brand are still “restrained” as Schmidt put it. And that’s putting it mildly. In the first two months of 2010, Mercedes sales were 15 percent below the horrible numbers in the same months of 2009.
Well at least we’re hearing about growth in sales without the ubiquitous line about fleet sales.
You’ll never hear anything about fleet sales from me. Where I grew up, they loved fleet sales, because many times, they could bypass the dealer’s margin …
You’ll never hear anything about fleet sales from me.
Ah, finally some fleet sales sanity. Thankyou.