Mercedes Sales Climbed 11% in June

Global sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles grew 11% to 188,400 units, aided by a 43% jump in demand for SUV/crossover vehicles, Daimler AG reports. The latter vehicle category accounted for one-third of all sales for the brand in the first half of the year, according to the company.

June sales expanded 14% to 86,700 units in Europe, 16% to 63,800 units in Asia Pacific and 2% to 33,200 in North America. Deliveries in the U.S. advanced 2% to 28,500 vehicles last month.

Sales of Daimler’s Smart city cars jumped 16% to 13,100 units in June and rose 18% to 73,500 in the first half of the year.

Mercedes-brand sales through the first six months of 2016 totaled a record 1 million units, up 12% from the same period last year. First-half sales were up in Europe (+13% to 444,600 units) and Asia Pacific (+22% to 346,200). Results were flat in North America at 189,500 units, including a 1% decline to 162,800 units in the U.S., according to Daimler.