The U.S. economy is still in slow motion, but you wouldn't know it from the latest sales figures for high-end imported automobiles.
Sandy Springs-based Porsche Cars North America Inc. reported U.S. sales in May rose 50 percent over May 2010 -- 2,817 vehicles, compared with 1,873 last year.
The figures represent Porsche's best May U.S. sales total since 2007, the company said in a statement.
For the first five months of 2011, Porsche sales are up 47 percent, from 8,842 vehicles in 2010 to 12,996.
Porsche announced three weeks ago it would move its North American headquarters from Sandy Springs to the old Ford plant site near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
As part of the deal, Porsche will build offices where the plant was demolished and a test track similar to its Porsche Silverstone facility in England.
Porsche wasn't the only high-end automaker to report robust sales during May.
Mercedes-Benz USA reported May sales of 20,306 vehicles, a 5.9 percent gain over May 2010. Mercedes said it was the best May sales performance since 2008. Mercedes said year-to-date sales of 95,458 vehicles are up 8.5 percent over last year.
Two other German carmakers reported sharp increases in sales.
Audi reported the best May U.S. sales in company history with a 13.6 percent increase -- to 10,457 vehicles sold from 9,205 in May 2010. It was the third-best month in Audi of America history, a company statement said.
The BMW Group in the U.S., which includes BMW and Mini, reported May sales of 26,452 vehicles, an increase of 19.7 percent from 22,092 in May 2010.
