Mercedes-Benz to rev up compact car sales

By Park Jin-hai

Mercedes-Benz announced its blueprint to increase sales of its compact cars, Wednesday.

“As of September this year, our small car lineup took 7.8 percent of all our sales. That number alone is the world’s 11th highest,” said Choi Duk-jun, vice president of sales at Mercedes-Benz Korea, at its “Mercedes Me” brand experience center’s opening ceremony.

“Compact cars are playing a very important role in the company’s sustainable growth. We will continuously expand the lineup to target younger customers.”

The company launched its B-class in 2012, A-class in 2013 and CLA-class in January this year. In August, it also launched compact SUV GLA-class, expanding its small car lineup.

The sales of those compacts as of September this year have increased 104 percent at 2,078 cars from a year earlier, pushing up overall sales.

Last month, the company became the top monthly foreign car seller here, selling 3,538, beating its rival BMW for the first time in nearly three years.

The Mercedes-Benz A-class sold 1,019 vehicles since its August 2013 launch. The CLA-class sold 929 since January launch and its sales remain strong so that people are on the waiting lists to receive the vehicle.

The GLA-class sold 245 in a month after its August launch.

The company will launch the A-class high performance A45 AMG and face-lifted B-class models next year, completing the compact lineup.

The newly opened Mercedes Me in Garosugil, southern Seoul, is a three-story brand experience building that is much like one in Germany.

Customers can test-drive its new compact cars and participate in various events including cooking classes, barista classes, band performances and magic shows over six days.

“Through events to be held at Mercedes Me, we would like to communicate with our customers. It will also be a space where customers could experience younger Mercedes-Benz through our compact car lines,” said Choi.