Mercedes-Benz Expects to Post Record U.S. Sales

Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz Cars unit predicts its American sales this year will surpass the record 253,000 vehicles it sold in 2007. The brand sold 245,200 units in the U.S. last year, lagging rival BMW AG by 2,700 vehicles.

Steve Cannon, CEO of the luxury carmaker's U.S. unit, says new models will fuel this year's growth. The brand's first-quarter sales rose 15% to a record 61,000 vehicles, exceeding its volume in Germany.