April 18, 2024

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Mercedes-Benz outsold local carmakers to finish fourth in domestic sales in January, industry data showed on Feb. 11.

The Korean unit of the German automaker sold 5,796 vehicles last month, equal to 4 percent of the total 114,632 vehicles. The sum places it fourth after Hyundai Motor (31.2 percent), Kia Motors (22.8 percent) and SsangYong Motor (6.1 percent).

January sales for Mercedes-Benz Korea shrank 22.8 percent compared with the month before, but they were still higher than the monthly sales by Renault Samsung Motors (3.5 percent) and GM Korea (3.1 percent).

The last time that the German brand reached No. 4 in monthly sales was back in April last year, a ranking that followed the closure of a local assembly plant by GM Korea two months before.

Mercedes-Benz defended the ranking for three months before slipping to No. 6 in May last year.

In yearly sales, Mercedes-Benz Korea sold 70,798 units for a market share of 4.5 percent last year, behind Renault Samsung (5.7 percent) and GM Korea (5.5 percent).

Industry watchers attribute the sales increase to the success of the E-class. January sales of the lineup were the 12th highest at 3,392 units, a number meaning that one E-class vehicle was sold for every three Grandeur autos from Hyundai Motor being purchased.

By Ram Garikipati and newswires (ram@heraldcorp.com)