A-Class the leading premium vehicle in the compact segment
371,700 units of the second-generation A-Class delivered
Stuttgart/Rastatt , Dec 04, 2006
In the tenth year of A-Class production, the 1,500,000th unit of the vehicle series has rolled off the assembly line at DaimlerChrysler?s Rastatt plant. More than 1.1 million units of the first model series were sold in its production period from 1997 to 2004. Since the market launch of the second generation of the A-Class in September 2004, a total of 371,700 customers have opted for the successful model. These strong A-Class sales make Mercedes-Benz the leading manufacturer of premium-class vehicles in the compact segment.
Particularly in Germany and Italy, the A-Class market share is far larger than that of competitors? vehicles in the premium segment. Other key sales markets include Japan, France and the UK. The milestone vehicle ? an A 180 CDI with a Polar Silver paint job, classic appointments and a driving school package ? is destined for the German market.
In addition to their trust in the Mercedes-Benz brand, customers report that the main reasons for choosing the A-Class are its compact dimen-sions and ease of operation. The most popular engine version is the A 180 CDI, the choice of about one third of the customers, followed by the A 150 basic model. The most frequently selected colors are the metallic finishes Polar Silver, Comet Gray and Cosmos Black.
The A-Class also impresses customers when it comes to safety: It?s the winner in its segment in the independent Euro-NCAP crash test. The high level of occupant safety typical of Mercedes vehicles is also guaranteed by the somewhat slanted positioning of the car?s engine and transmission. Both of the components are located partly under-neath the passenger compartment, which ensures that the drive train is pushed downward in the event of a collision, rather than in the direction of the interior.
DaimlerChrysler?s Rastatt plant has been producing the Mercedes-Benz A-Class since 1997; the B-Class has been produced there since 2005. Roughly 6,500 employees work at the location, and a further 1,200 people work for nine supplier companies in the industrial park that is also located on the plant?s 147-hectare grounds.
