If cars can give their owners a certain social standing, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has the class and model to suit any American status seeker. The three-pointed star luxury brand is available in the US through MBUSA, a subsidiary of Daimler AG. The company imports, distributes, and markets Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, and smart vehicles through some 350 dealerships. It operates its own dealership too -- Mercedes-Benz Manhattan -- as well as three parts distribution centers, four vehicle preparation facilities, and four learning and performance centers. The company sold a record 305,000-plus vehicles in the US in 2012. Founded in 1965, MBUSA is among FORTUNE's "Best Companies to Work For."
Geographic Reach
As its name suggests, MBUSA focuses on making and marketing vehicles nationwide and in Puerto Rico.
Operations
Manufacturing operations for the Mercedes-Benz brand is the US is handled by Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc., which operates a 3.7 million sq.-ft. assembly plant near Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
MBUSA sells cars throughout the US in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Financial Performance
While parent company Daimler doesn't release specifics for the Mercedes-Benz brand in the US, the number of vehicles it has sold in the US is growing after years of declines. Indeed, its high point was in 2012, when it sold 305,072 cars. This represents a 15% increase vs. the 264,460 vehicles sold by the company during the same period in 2011.
The MBUSA business logged its highest volumes in 2012 among its smart and Sprinter models. Sales of its smart cars increased 92% -- reaching 10,000 vehicles sold -- while Sprinter rose 26%, selling nearly 21,000 vehicles in 2012. Its Mercedes-Benz model line, alone, sold 274,134 cars for the year, as well, representing a nearly 12% rise vs. the previous year.
Strategy
The US is Daimler's third-most important market, following Germany and Western Europe. The company plies an array of models, from the mini smart fortwo small cars to premium models and sedans for the affluent (by Maybach); however, its top sellers are the Mercedes-Benz C- and E-Class sedans.
The company is leading the US automotive industry by putting an emission-free, lithium-ion battery powered sedan on the road. The all-electric B-Class went on sale in 2013.