AMG sales soar to 30 per cent of Mercedes' total, but which model is most popular?

Australians are buying more Mercedes-AMG models than ever before, with the go-fast brand accounting for nearly one third of the German brand’s overall sales so far in 2021.

Speaking to CarsGuide, Mercedes-Benz Australia PR boss Jerry Stamoulis revealed that “AMG is now 30 per cent of overall sales”.

“We’re one of the largest markets in the world for AMG,” he said.

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To the end of November this year, Mercedes-Benz has sold 26,466 passenger cars and SUVs, meaning just under 8000 AMGs have found new homes in 2021.

As such, if AMG was a standalone car brand, it would be more popular than Alfa Romeo (565 sales YTD), Chrysler (162 sales), Citroen (144 sales), Fiat (654 sales), Genesis (601 sales), Jaguar (1200 sales), Maserati (512 sales) and Porsche (3951 sales) combined.

AMG would also sit above Jeep (7108), Land Rover (6283) and Renault (6673) in the top-selling manufacturers list.

But the list of top-selling AMG models might surprise some, as the traditionally strong-selling C63 sedan and wagon exited production in 2021 in preparation for a new-generation model likely due in 2022.

Mr Stamoulis revealed the best-selling AMG model for 2021 has been the GLC 43 mid-size SUV, followed by the A35 hot hatch and then GLE 53 large SUV.

The second-best selling A35 was only introduced to showrooms last year, and is the cheapest AMG-tuned model available at $77,868 before on-road costs, while the other 53-badged models are also entry-level AMG grades for the GLC and GLE model lines respectively.

AMG’s activities have been relatively quiet in 2021 though, with the launch of GLA 45 S in January, the GLE 63 earlier this year and the arrival of the facelifted, and now AMG-only CLS 53, last month.

The pinnacle of AMG performance, the GT Black Series was also launched in November.

Last year, AMG’s sales mix accounted for around 18.5 per cent of Mercedes’ overall volume, so why has its popularity skyrocketed in 2021?

This year was the first full year of sales after the introduction of the A35 and new A45 grades, spread across the A-Class hatch, A-Class sedan, CLA, GLA and GLB model lines.

The ongoing global pandemic has also kept international travel off the table for most, meaning they are spending more money at home, potentially on new-vehicle purchases.