Mercedes-Benz's AMG Division Posts Record Sales of 32,000 Cars in 2013

AMG has gone from a two-man operation that was founded in n 1967 by Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, to a fully incorporated Mercedes-Benz subsidiary employing 1,200 workers and selling a record-breaking 32,000 cars in 2013.

"We are looking back on the company’s strongest year ever,” said Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. “This extraordinary growth has exceeded even our own expectations."

The German brand attributed its sales success to several factors including the broad introduction of the AMG-developed version of its all-wheel drive 4MATIC system on a number of models, including the E63 and CLS 63 AMG, as well as the arrival of the most affordable models in its range, the compact A 45 and CLA 45 AMG.

Mercedes noted that after its introduction, around 90 percent (!) of buyers of the new E 63 AMG chose the all-wheel drive 4MATIC technology.

AMG posted an overall growth of around 20 percent, with its two main European markets, Germany recording a 10 percent increase with the UK being up 40 percent. The company added that in China, 2013 sales were up around a quarter on the previous year, even though the new entry-level A 45 AMG and CLA 45 AMG models, as well as the new S 63 AMG 4MATIC, were not available there.

As for the future, AMG said it plans to enter a new segment with "a sports car it has fully developed itself" - it is likely referring to the SLC or GT AMG, a more affordable model aimed at the likes of the Porsche 911.