Mercedes-Benz continues to post strong growth in China. The brand with the star was the fastest-growing premium brand in China in the year to date and will remain so for the full year as well. Already by September, sales of Mercedes-Benz had reached the same level as in all of 2008, and they are expected to increase by more than 60 percent in full-year 2009 compared to 2008. “We posted record sales in every month this year in China, and we will continue to grow dynamically there in the future,” said Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars. “We will expand our presence on the Chinese market next year as well, and we expect to continue to grow faster than the market as a whole. We also expect to receive a boost from the long wheelbase version of the new E-Class, which we will offer especially for the Chinese market from the middle of next year.”