A.R. Albisher and Z. Alkazemi Co. - the exclusive general distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Kuwait has announced another noteworthy sales year for Mercedes-Benz Kuwait highlighting the strong double digit growth in 2012. With total sales for passenger cars up by 21% on 2011, the Kuwaiti market has proven once again the confidence consumers have in the Mercedes-Benz brand. “Mercedes-Benz in the Middle East and Levant region had a record sales year in 2012 with overall 16.7% growth in sales, and Kuwait’s contribution to this accomplishment is something that we are very proud of and hope to continue achieving over the coming years,” said Michael Ruehle, General Manager, Abdul Rahman Albisher & Zaid Alkazemi Co. “I am particularly confident that we will be seeing even stronger sales year-on-year as a result of the range of cars Mercedes-Benz is offering in Kuwait. Consumers in the Middle East, and in Kuwait specifically, are very passionate about the cars they drive and we offer them the best the in terms of power, technology, design, comfort and safety; and we are seeing this in the sales figures.” It is no surprise that the AMG and SUV segments were the top two sales motivators in Kuwait given that 2012 was the ‘Year of AMG and SUV.’ The adrenaline pumping Mercedes AMG division sales rose by a bolstering 56% compared to 2011 – lead primarily by the launch of the G 63 AMG and G 65 AMG variants, as well as the award-winning ML 63 AMG in the SUV range and the C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series. Unveiled in the latter part of 2012 in Kuwait, both the SL 63 AMG and SL 65 AMG were quick to further fuel the nation’s love affair with the sporty range and drive sales upwards. The 2012 launch of the Mercedes-Benz flagship 7-seater GL as well as the G-Class and leading M-Class offered different types of consumers in Kuwait access to the Mercedes-Benz SUV range. As a result, SUV sales grew a whopping 41% compared to 2011 and represented the second most sought after Mercedes-Benz car. “As for 2013, there is no stopping the momentum in Kuwait,” added Ruehle. “We’re looking at further success for the SUV range – especially the GL500 since it was launched toward the end of 2012 and the rising sales will definitely spill over to this year. We are also looking forward to the regional launches of the new GL63 AMG, the new A-Class and the Mercedes-Benz flagship S-Class luxury sedan models and the impact the unveiling will have in Kuwait.”  Albawaba Business