2010-07-06 09:44

A model stands next to a Mercedes-Benz E260 CGI car at the Guangzhou Autoshow November 23, 2009. [Agencies]

Sales of Mercedes-Benz cars were up 13.2 percent in the year to June as strong demand for the premium brand in China and the United States helped drive growth, parent company Daimler AG said Monday.

Mercedes-Benz sold 113,300 cars worldwide last month, making it the best June performance in its history, Daimler said.

The premium brand's sales in China were up 177 percent last month to 13,700 cars, US sales were up 20.5 percent to 18,300, and sales in Japan gained 26.5 percent compared with June last year to reach 3,400.

There also was strong growth in Brazil, Russia and India. Daimler reported sales increases of more than 70 percent in all three of the emerging markets. However, sales in Western Europe were down 3.6 percent at 58,100.

Mercedes-Benz's worldwide sales for the first six months of 2010 were up 15.2 percent from a year earlier to 556,700 cars. The brand delivered nearly 120 percent more cars in China for a total of 60,500; in the United States, its sales rose 21.8 percent to 103,700.

Mercedes-Benz Cars executive Joachim Schmidt said the year-on-year increase in June was the eighth time in a row that sales rose by a double-digit percentage.

"We are also in an excellent position to do well in the months ahead and plan to continue Mercedes-Benz's success with a significant increase in the third quarter," Schmidt said in a statement.

Total sales at the Mercedes-Benz Cars division, which also includes the ultracompact Smart car, were up 10.6 percent in June and 11.6 percent for the year's first half.

Smart sales were down 13.3 percent to 9,600 in June and 17 percent at 50,700 for the first half. However, the company said it expects a new model to be presented later this month to boost sales.