September Auto Sales: Daimler

Sales fell 8.8 percent to 20,557 vehicles for the month, compared with 22,459 in the same period last year.

Mercedes' CLK-class models saw weaker volume of 614 vehicles versus 1,247 in September 2007. The CLS-class line posted sales volume of 300, down from 554.

The company's R-class line saw its sales drop to 500 from 1,018 a year earlier.

Contrary to industry trends, Mercedes saw sales of its M-class sport utility vehicle line increase 1.1 percent to 2,981 from 2,948.

Sales of its C-class line increased 11.9 percent to 6,772 from 6,052.

So far this year, Mercedes has sold 177,298 vehicles, a 1.6 percent drop from the same period last year.

Daimler sold 1,778 smart vehicles during the month. The company started selling smart vehicles in January, and so far has seen volumes of 18,156.