Authorised dealers of Mercedes-Benz in the UAE are bucking the global trend of slowing sales.
Emirates Motor Company (EMC), the German marque’s dealer for Abu Dhabi, said first-half sales surged 23 per cent from the same period last year, but it did not provide a specific figure.
In Dubai, Gargash Enterprises, car maker’s dealer for the emirate, said passenger car sales increased 15 per cent, while sales of the performance AMG cars rose 16 per cent. The dealer sold about 4,000 cars between January and June. In Abu Dhabi, sales of the Mercedes C Class model shot up 189 per cent.
“Our C class outperformed every other marque,” said Nassim Mourani, EMC’s general manager.
Gargash Enterprises said its robust sales growth was partly because of the launch of three new models this year – CLA, GLA and AMG GT – across various price points.
“We are pleased to see double-digit growth figures in the first half of 2015 as we had envisioned, and hope to keep the momentum going,” said Karl-Johan Sandesjo, the general manager at Gargash Enterprises.
The dealer expects to do well in the second half, as three new SUV models are due to be launched – the GLE coupe, GLE and GLC. They are expected to be popular in the UAE.
According to IHS Automotive, the oil slump is expected to weigh on car sales this year.
The IMF has revised down its GDP forecast for the country, with growth now expected to slow to 3.2 per cent this year from 4.2 per cent last year.
Overall car sales in the UAE this year are expected to rise 5.6 per cent to 1.88 million units from 1.78 million last year.
ascott@thenational.ae
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