Mercedes-AMG sales expected to hit 7000

MERCEDES-AMG is on track to record its best Australian sales yet this year with an expected haul of 7000 units, around 2000 – or 40 per cent – more than last year’s total, putting the premium sportscar brand well ahead of rivals including Porsche.

Speaking to Australian media during the international launch of the GLC63 S, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific public relations, product and corporate communications senior manager David McCarthy said if sales expectations hold for the remaining two months of the year, AMG should make up about 17.5 per cent of overall registrations for the German car-maker.

“I think we’ll get pretty close (to 40,000 sales overall), a couple of little blockages in the supply, mainly AMG – we’ll come very close,” he said.

“(AMG sales) will definitely have a six in front of it, it might even have a seven.

“I think if the cars arrive and we get them through customs and they are here in time and they are delivered, we should do 7000 units this year.”

Mr McCarthy revealed that the significant lift in sales was due to the popularity of the newer – and cheaper – 43 variants which are powered by a 270kW/520Nm bi-turbo 3.0-litre V6 engine.

“Currently, (the most popular AMG is) C43 sedan, which is about a dozen units ahead of C63 sedan,” he said.

“Year-to-date, C43 sedan is just ahead of C63 sedan, but it hasn’t reduced C63, so it’s incremental.

“One area we do do well with AMG, relatively small numbers, is C63 Estate. We do 10 to 15 a month, consistently.

“But C63 sedan hasn’t dropped, so most of the growth in AMG is actually in the 43s.

“E43 is also doing quite well.”

Force-fed V6 engines are also available in the brand’s SLC two-seat convertible, GLE SUV and GLC mid-size crossover – the latter of which is expected to become AMG’s most popular model, according to Mr McCarthy.

“If you look at the trends, probably in a couple of years – take the compacts out – SUVs will probably outsell the sedans and coupes,” he said.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if in a couple of years, the GLC43 and 63 outsell the sedans – C43 and C63 – (but) they’ve still got a way to go though.”

Mr McCarthy said the smaller twin-turbo 2.0-litre four pot-powered 45 AMGs continue to contribute consistently to sales, with A45 being the most popular, followed by CLA45 and GLA45.

New variants of the flagship AMG GT two-seater have also launched in 2017 to add to overall volume, including the base non-S, the top-spec R, new GT C and an open-air drop-top bodystyle.

Although Mr McCarthy said Australia’s “allocation problems are less of an issue than they were in the past”, he warned that next year’s AMG sales will likely not mirror the same level of growth seen in 2017.

“The market is really – it is tough, it’s very competitive,” he said. “I think the market next year is going to be a lot tougher, I don’t see as much growth as this year, but there’ll still be growth.

“In terms of a figure for AMG, yes we want to do more, but I think that for the level of growth, as you’re building off a higher base all the time, it’s important you actually look at the number rather than the percentage.

“If it drops a little bit, but you’re selling more cars overall that’s fine, so percentages are always dangerous. It’s looking at the raw numbers that matter more than anything.”