Mercedes Takes Early Luxury Lead After Outselling BMW - Bloomberg

Daimler AG (DAI)'s Mercedes-Benz U.S. sales surged 11 percent in January, getting an early jump on its effort to top Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW)'s BMW in luxury-auto deliveries for the year. Mercedes said it delivered 22,501 vehicles last month, its best January, helped by sales of the C-Class sedan, which rose 11 percent to 7,214. Brand sales for BMW increased 0.7 percent to 16,513 vehicles, boosted by a 56 percent gain for its X5 sport-utility vehicle. Toyota Motor Corp. (7203)'s Lexus rose 32 percent to 16,211, led by the ES sedan, which more than doubled to 5,186 deliveries. The two German automakers are vying to be the top luxury- auto brand in the U.S. after outselling Lexus the past two years. BMW vaulted to its second consecutive U.S. luxury crown with a December surge. Mercedes had the lead after November. Lexus was the top-selling luxury brand in the U.S. for 11 years until natural disasters in Asia curtailed production in 2011. "We've set another record this January and are breaking into 2013 at a strong sales pace," Steve Cannon, chief executive officer of Mercedes-Benz USA, said in a statement. The sales results don't include Daimler's cargo vans and Smart cars and BMW's Mini brand, which aren't luxury vehicles. To contact the reporter on this story: Mark Clothier in Southfield, Michigan, at mclothier@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jamie Butters at jbutters@bloomberg.net Enlarge image Mercedes's January Gain Earns Early Lead for U.S. Luxury Crown The grill of a Daimler AG Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe vehicle is seen during the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The grill of a Daimler AG Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe vehicle is seen during the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Technology - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFbx_5hF1m9jV1hq_Bzd5ASrDoq9A&url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-01/mercedes-takes-early-luxury-lead-after-outselling-bmw.html

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