Surging China, stronger Europe boost Mercedes

BERLIN (AP) — Daimler AG says surging demand in China along with a stronger performance in Europe helped propel its luxury Mercedes-Benz brand to record monthly sales figures in March.

Daimler said Friday that it sold 158,523 Mercedes cars last month — a 13.3-percent increase from a year earlier. Deliveries in China were up 34 percent at 24,937 while Japanese sales surged 39.5 percent to 8,690.

Mercedes sold 7.6 percent more cars in Europe, delivering 76,587 vehicles — helped by a 19.8-percent rise in British sales. U.S. sales climbed 11.2 percent to 27,401.

In the first quarter, Mercedes sold 374,276 cars worldwide — an increase of 15.2 percent.