Mercedes, Japanese brands race ahead in 2015

Singapore

SALES of luxury marque Mercedes-Benz have raced ahead in the new year, chased by a pack of mass-market Japanese makes. It had taken an early lead in January and then held on to it last month to become the top make so far.

There were 1,161 new-car registrations (see table) for the brand with the three-pointed star, which had ended 2014 as runner-up, said the Land Transport Authority. The tally includes both authorised and parallel imports; the latter usually account for less than 10 per cent of the number, if at all.