Mercedes-Benz USA closes out third quarter with record September (nur in englischer Sprache)

Atlanta, USA, October 2, 2015

Mercedes-Benz USA closes out third quarter with record September

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported all-time record September sales at 32,087 units, an increase of 6.0% from the 30,271 vehicles sold during the same month last year. Sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars tallied 29,020 units sold, a 6.2% increase over September 2014. Sprinter delivered 2,317 sales for the month of September, up 14.0% YTD, while smart recorded 750 units in September. On a year-to-date basis, Mercedes-Benz retails totaled 249,890, up 7.2%. Adding year-to-date sales of 20,274 for Sprinter Vans and 5,432 for smart, MBUSA posted a grand total of 275,596 units through September, up 6.4%.

“Record September sales fueled the best-ever third-quarter results in our history,” said Stephen Cannon, president and CEO of MBUSA. “The Daimler Investor Relations, www.daimler.com/investors robust demand for SUVs continues with the strong performance of our new GLE and GLE-Coupe.”

September sales for the Mercedes-Benz brand were led by the C-, Eand GLE model lines. The C-Class took the top spot with 7,660 units, up 21.9% from the same month last year. The E-Class followed with September sales of 4,137, while the newly-introduced GLE rounded out the top three at 3,492, with two-month sales of 5,294.

The brand’s AMG high-performance models posted a 159.1% monthly sales increase to 1,858 units in September, while year-to-date sales climbed 28.7% to 10,217. Sales of Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC diesel models hit 572 for the month and 9,269 year-to-date.

Separately, Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) models delivered September sales of 11,397, an increase of 31.8% compared to the same time last year, which sold 8,648 units. On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO has sold 89,744 vehicles, an increase of 1.6% over the comparable period last year (88,352 vehicles).

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Atlanta, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse lineup in the luxury segment with 14 model lines ranging from the sporty CLA-Class four-door coupe to the flagship S-Class and the Mercedes-AMG GT S.

MBUSA is also responsible for Mercedes-Benz Vans and smart products in the U.S. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com, www.mbsprinterusa.com and www.smartusa.com.

For the complete IR Release including tables please download the provided PDF file.

GM Outlines Plans to Capitalize on Future of Personal Mobility

MILFORD, Mich. – General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) CEO Mary Barra and her leadership team today outlined the company’s plans to capitalize on the future of personal mobility by owning the customer relationship beyond the vehicle, building upon nearly two decades of connectivity leadership.

GM also said it plans to strengthen its core business through global growth initiatives and an aggressive product launch cadence, while continuing to focus on driving cost efficiencies. As a result, the company expects to increase its earnings per share and generate significant shareholder value. The company shared its plans with investors during a conference at its Milford Proving Ground.

“The convergence of rapidly improving technology and changing consumer preferences is creating an inflection point for the transportation industry not seen in decades,” said Barra. “Some might find this massive change to be daunting, but we look at it and see the opportunity to be a disruptor. We believe our decades of leadership in vehicle connectivity is fundamental to our quest to redefine the future of personal mobility.”

During the conference, company leaders announced several product-related initiatives focused on making GM’s vehicles more advanced, safer and more fuel efficient. They also outlined alternative transportation initiatives GM is exploring.

• Autonomous Vehicle Deployment: GM announced that late in 2016 it will add a fleet of 2017 Chevrolet Volts designed to drive autonomously within its renovated Warren Technical Center campus. GM employees will reserve a Volt using a car-sharing app, then select a destination. GM’s autonomous technology will bring the vehicle to its destination and park it. The program will serve as a rapid-development laboratory to provide data and lessons to accelerate the company’s technical capabilities in autonomous vehicles. GM has been testing its “Super Cruise” autonomous driving technology since 2012, and confirmed today the feature will be available in the 2017 Cadillac CT6.
• Car Sharing: GM also announced two new car- and ride-sharing projects, one in New York City operating today and one to come in first quarter next year in another U.S. city. Each project will further expand the company’s participation in alternate transportation models, which the company anticipates will generate additional revenue and profits. These will amplify the company’s recent car-sharing projects to test hardware and software systems and gain insights into car-sharing user experiences. For example, one of GM’s first mobility partnerships was with Google early last year, where it tested a commuter ride-sharing service using Chevrolet Spark EVs. Using an app, drivers and riders were matched based on trip patterns and schedules. The project demonstrated value and potential in creating automotive transportation services, leading to other initiatives like its New York City program announced today. In Europe the company’s Opel brand has also recently deployed a peer-to-peer sharing service called CarUnity, which incorporates dealers and their fleets to provide an array of available vehicles for sharing. In China earlier this year a fleet of EN-V 2.0 electric concept vehicles went into service at Jiao Tong University in Shanghai as part of a multi-modal campus transportation system alongside bicycles, cars and shuttle buses.
• eBike Concept: GM unveiled an electric bike, or eBike, concept during the conference, demonstrating the company’s evolving view of “mobility” in an ever-changing, increasingly urban world. Designed and engineered at GM’s engineering and development center in Oshawa, Ontario, the eBike concept was designed to help people stay mobile in an increasingly difficult-to-navigate urban landscape.
• Fuel Cell Propulsion: Another technology helping GM set the pace in achieving zero emissions is fuel cell propulsion. GM has been working to advance hydrogen fuel cells for a decade, launching its first fuel cell electric vehicle in 2007. In collaboration with Honda, it is developing a next-generation hydrogen fuel cell stack and hydrogen storage systems. GM confirmed its plans to jointly develop a commercially viable fuel cell vehicle with Honda in the 2020 timeframe. Because the technology can also provide promising financial rewards, GM indicated it is pursuing non-automotive fuel cell applications for the aerospace and military industries.
• Mixed Materials: GM is intensely focused on reducing weight in every vehicle it develops, since lighter vehicles are better able to meet increasingly stringent global CO₂ standards and offer consumer benefits including efficiency and enhanced performance. The company is using an array of materials, including various grades of steel, aluminum and composites, to help make vehicles stronger, safer, more fuel efficient and fun to drive. Engineers are using a mix of materials more cost effectively than ever across all GM brands and making them accessible to customers at various price points. The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, for example, incorporates 11 different materials and, as a result, is nearly 300 pounds lighter than its predecessor while the next-generation Camaro is almost 400 pounds lighter than the current model.
• Exclusive Mixed-Metal Manufacturing Techniques: GM’s R&D team has invented another patented, industry-first welding technology to allow the use of more lightweight metal on future vehicles. This resistance spot-welding process enables the welding of aluminum to steel, which helps make vehicles lighter and more structurally robust. The process will be adopted at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant on the Cadillac CT6 in the first half of 2016. 

Strengthening GM’s Core Business

The company expects to grow its business over the next five years through key initiatives including a $5 billion investment in an all-new Chevrolet growth market vehicle family; maintaining a strong market position in China by enhancing its presence in SUV and luxury segments; expanding Cadillac’s vehicle portfolio into growing luxury segments; continuing the growth of GM Financial through the expansion of services globally, and expanding aftersales and OnStar revenue opportunities globally.

In the same timeframe, GM plans to introduce a large number of all-new or refreshed vehicles globally. In 2015, about 26 percent of GM’s global sales volume has come from vehicles new or refreshed within the previous 18 months. This percentage is projected to be 39 percent in 2016, 40 percent in 2017, 31 percent in 2018, and reach 40 percent in 2019 and 2020.

GM is also accelerating its efforts to drive further cost efficiencies across the value chain, with a focus on enhancing overall value for its customers. The company said it expects to generate benefits of approximately $5.5 billion in purchasing, manufacturing and administration expense between 2015 and 2018, more than offsetting increased investments in brand development and technology.

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world’s largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

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In this press release, our use of the words “plans,” “anticipated,” “goals,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “possible,” “target,” “believe,” “commit,” “intend” “continue,” “may,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “project,” “appears,” “potential,” “projected,” “on track,” “upside,” “positioned,” “outlook” or similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements that represent our current judgment about possible future events. We believe these judgments are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any events or financial results, and our actual results may differ materially due to a variety of important factors. Among other items, such factors may include: our ability to realize production efficiencies and to achieve reductions in costs as a result of our restructuring initiatives and labor modifications; our ability to maintain quality control over our vehicles and avoid material vehicle recalls and the cost and effect on our reputation of product recalls; our ability to maintain adequate financing sources, including as required to fund our planned significant investment in new technology; the ability of our suppliers to timely deliver parts, components and systems; our ability to realize successful vehicle applications of new technology; overall strength and stability of our markets, particularly outside of North America and China; costs and risks associated with litigation and government investigations including those related to our various recalls; our ability to negotiate a successful new collective bargaining agreement with the UAW and avoid any costly work stoppage; our ability to remain competitive and our ability to continue to attract new customers, particularly for our new products. GM’s most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q provide information about these and other factors, which we may revise or supplement in future reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission.Forward-Looking Statements

Für den Kundensport: Sneak-Preview des neuen Opel Astra TCR

Rüsselsheim.  Die Entwicklung des neuen Opel Astra TCR für die junge und schon sehr erfolgreiche Touring Car Racing Series (TCR) schreitet planmäßig voran. Der auf dem neuen Opel Astra basierende Kundensport-Tourenwagen wird der Weltöffentlichkeit anlässlich der offiziellen TCR-Präsentation am 15. Oktober 2015 auf dem Circuit Jules Tacheny im südbelgischen Mettet vorgestellt.

Der von Opel Motorsport in Zusammenarbeit mit dem langjährigen Technikpartner Kissling entwickelte Astra TCR verfügt über einen rund 330 PS starken Zweiliter-Turbomotor und eine Anzahl technischer Leckerbissen. Mit der Symbiose aus seriennaher, dabei aber äußerst leistungsstarker und spektakulärer Technik setzt das Rennfahrzeug die große Kundensport-Historie des Rüsselsheimer Automobilherstellers fort.

Die zur Saison 2015 ins Leben gerufene junge TCR-Serie bietet das perfekte Spielfeld für professionelle Kundenteams. Dank der dreistufigen Plattform kann ein TCR-Fahrzeug mit ein und derselben Homologation in verschiedenen nationalen und kontinentalen Meisterschaften sowie der globalen TCR International Series eingesetzt werden. Mit der ADAC TCR Germany wird auch Deutschland eine nationale TCR-Rennserie erhalten. Darüber hinaus wird beim ADAC 24h-Rennen Nürburgring eine eigene TCR-Klasse ausgeschrieben, was die Vielzahl der Einsatzmöglichkeiten für den Opel Astra TCR weiter erhöht.

Die Händlerpremiere des Jahres: Der neue Opel Astra kommt

Rüsselsheim.  Viel wurde bereits über den neuen Kompakten des Rüsselsheimer Herstellers berichtet: Auf der IAA stand er ab Mitte September im Blitzlichtgewitter, am 10. und 11. Oktober kommt er nun zum Opel-Händler – der neue Opel Astra.

Er tritt mit einer ganzen Reihe von Premium-Technologien der Oberklasse an. Da ist beispielsweise das in der Kompaktklasse einzigartige IntelliLux LED^® Matrix-Licht, das die Nacht zum Tag macht. Und der persönliche Online- und Service-Assistent Opel OnStar, der mit einem WLAN-Hotspot für bis zu sieben mobile Geräte das Internet ins Auto holt. Obendrein bietet der neue Astra AGR (Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V.) geprüfte Wellness-Sitze mit Ventilation und Massagefunktion, dazu kommen Fahrassistenzsysteme vom Feinsten.

Durch die Weiterentwicklung der Opel-Designphilosophie aus skulpturaler Eleganz und deutscher Präzision zeigt sich der Astra nunmehr schon rein optisch leichter. Und tatsächlich, der Neue ist bis zu 200 Kilogramm leichter als sein Vorgänger geworden – für höchste Effizienz. Auch die Motoren stammen aus der neuesten Generation wirtschaftlicher, temperamentvoller und leise laufender Antriebe und bieten eine Leistungsspanne von 70kW/95PS bis zu 147 kW/200 PS.

„Der neue Opel Astra ist die konsequente Weiterführung unserer 2013 begonnenen Modelloffensive“, erklärt Opel-Deutschland-Chef Jürgen Keller. „Er wird die Erfolgsgeschichte der Opel-Kompaktklasse weiterschreiben. Mit seinem dynamischen Design und seiner hohen Qualität revolutioniert er die Kompaktklasse.“