FRANKFURT, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Auto sales by Daimler's Mercedes-Benz unit gained 1.35 percent in July to 105,100 vehicles, with an increase by the Smart city car offsetting a dip by the Mercedes brand, a statement said on Wednesday.

'Since the beginning of the year, sales of Mercedes-Benz, AMG, Smart and Maybach brand vehicles have risen by seven percent to 773,200 units,' it added.

In July, deliveries of Mercedes-Benz autos edged down to 92,700 vehicles from 93,800 in the same month of 2007.

But the group also delivered a record 12,400 Smart vehicles, up from 9,800 one year earlier, it said.

Among the Mercedes autos, the group reported interest in its C-Class cars as well as in the SLK and SL roadster models.

Its new GLK model was expected 'to provide new sales momentum from the end of the year,' the statement said.

GLK deliveries in Europe would begin in October, it added.