Mercedes Poised to Extend Sales Lead in China

Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz brand, which has surpassed luxury market sales leader Audi in China this year, predicts it will extend its lead with another year of double-digit growth in 2018.

Four years ago, Audi was outselling Mercedes in China 4:1. But new Mercedes products, a jump in volume for locally assembled models and a revamped dealer system have fueled strong growth.

Mercedes sales in China surged 28% year on year to 488,900 units in the first 10 months of 2017. That compares with a 3% decline to 472,500 units for Audi, according to company reports.

Hubertus Troska, who heads Daimler operations in China, tells reporters that the Mercedes push will be helped next year when the brand begins local production of a compact sedan to compete with the Audi A3 and BMW 1- and 2-Series small cars.