Mercedes-Benz, BMW both post record September sales

Not only are the German horsepower wars still going strong, but if this next bit of news isn't evidence of German sales wars, then we don't know what is.

BMW sold 189,675 vehicles worldwide during the month of September, an increase of 6.7 percent over the previous year, which also made it the best September sales month for the automaker. This comes with a small asterisk -- namely, that figure includes Mini and Rolls-Royce sales, though if we're talking just BMW-badged vehicles, the September sales totaled 158,029 (still a 7.6 percent increase over September of 2012). BMW credits steady interest in the BMW 3 series for this record. 44,752 3 series models were sold -- almost a third of all sales. And through September of 2013, the automaker has sold 1,209,598 BMW brand cars, which represented a 9.0 percent increase compared to this time last year.

Mercedes-Benz wasn't far behind with total sales, though, selling 142,994 cars around the world in the month of September: the company's best sales month ever. While this was just about about 16,000 cars shy of BMW brand's September sales, with Smart cars added in, that number would be 151,520. Mercedes-Benz actually achieved a gain of 15.9 percent during September 2013, compared to the next best month of sales.

We have a feeling that another record sales month could be just around the corner, when North America receives the highly anticipated CLA sedans. Year-to-date, Mercedes-Benz has sold 1,062,638 cars, so it still has some catching up to do to beat BMW (assuming it even wants to beat BMW). Mercedes-Benz credited a jump in sales of the A-class, C-class, and CLA-class cars for this dramatic leap, only one of which is so far offered on our shores. Mercedes-Benz's September sales in the U.S. totaled 24,697, which represents a little over a fifth of worldwide sales for the automaker.

Given that both automakers are expanding into smaller segments (and moving more sheet metal than ever in China), these sales records perhaps shouldn't come as a surprise. But it's worth mentioning that some volume models are still unavailable in North America. For BMW that would be the 1-series hatchback, available in three- and five-door flavors. Contrast with the 1-series Coupe which is offered here. And Mercedes-Benz is still keeping the A-class hatches from our shores, which have been selling like the German equivalent of hotcakes (apfelstrudel perhaps?) elsewhere in the world.

By Jay Ramey