Mercedes-Benz regains US luxury-vehicle sales lead over BMW

Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz regained the US luxury-vehicle sales lead for the year over Bayerische Motoren Werke AG's BMW brand with April deliveries rising 24%, the biggest gain of any premium brand.

US sales of Mercedes vehicles rose to 22,336 last month while BMW deliveries increased 12% to 21,062, according to statements yesterday by the companies. Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus brand, the top luxury seller for 11 years through 2010, slipped 0.1% to 17,551.

Mercedes and BMW, which overtook Lexus last year to become the top-selling luxury brand in the US, are competing for the 2012 sales crown. BMW finished the first quarter with 36 vehicle lead over Mercedes.