AMG sets record sales for 2008, stop-start by 2012
February 5, 2009 by George Skentzos
Proving that the rich are only getting richer, AMG has announced that 2008 marked the best sales year in the brand’s history despite extremely difficult market conditions.
The performance arm of Mercedes-Benz increased its unit sales worldwide by 19 per cent, selling a total of 24,200 high-performance vehicles for the year.
Unlike other premium brands, the US continues to lead the world as the strongest market for AMG, accounting for 38 per cent of global sales followed by Germany with 13 per cent and Japan with 8 per cent.
The greatest growth markets for the year were China and Brazil which both experienced a sales increase of 260 and 565 per cent respectively.
Australia also received special mention with AMG acknowledging a loyal and enthusiastic repeat-customer community, with strong sales of over 700 vehicles in 2008 accounting for five per cent of total Australian Mercedes-Benz passenger car sales.
The most popular model in the AMG stable is by far the C 63 AMG which made a significant contribution of 8100 deliveries for 2008 – making it not only the most popular AMG in Australia, but the most successful AMG vehicle of all time.
This figure was closely followed by one of the most expensive models in the AMG stable, with 3050 deliveries of the SL 63 AMG recorded for 2008.
The high-performance brand also announced two new fuel saving technologies would be introduced from 2010, with AMG set to equip its vehicles with direct petrol injection and start-stop functionality.
The aim is to achieve a 30 per cent reduction in consumption figures in comparison to present levels by 2012.
Print it: 
If they’re the sales people in that top pic, no wonder they’re making lots of sales!
Is it just me or does AMGs whole philosophy seem to revolve around just putting the biggest damn engine they possibly can in each car? I don’t mean to say that’s a bad thing either, quite the opposite in fact. I just find it funny how German car makers are, generally speaking, very concentrated on efficiency and refinement and what not, and then AMG get their hands on it and, well, just get as much power and torque as they can underneath the bonnet.
Personally I love it. It’s almost like an Aussie attitude to making a performance car. ‘Hmmm….well clearly it needs a bigger engine. And, well actually that’ll about do it I think’. Maybe that’s why they’re selling like hotcakes in America? All the fun of a muscle car with a much nicer interior.
Stop-start technology? Does any body know how this works (besides the obvious). Their aiming for a 30% reduction in fuel consumption which is vairly high.
Interesting that despite the recession for many parts of the world, AMG and BMW M division can still post record sales.
If the figures are based on deliveries, then the figures are irrelevent, because most of the C63’s were ordered in late 07 early 08 before the nastiness really hit. If it is on sales, then it is OK, but remember things were still looking OK in June, the big thump happened in around July to September when the share market crunched again (and again). I had been told all of the c63’s had been sold out and there was a waiting list when I was looking for a car in June. Then I got a call that one had arrived and the deal had fallen over (probably mid June). The things are so ugly, though, that I couldnt be bothered even looking at it, although the 6.3 litre engine was a real temptation.