Key facts
- Mercedes-Benz car deliveries fell 8% year-on-year to 407,200 units in the third quarter.
- Sales in China dropped 31% to 86,800 units in the third quarter.
- The Top-End segment saw sales decline 21% to 53,900 units.
- Car sales increased 6% in the U.S. and 5% in Europe.
- Group sales of battery-electric vehicles rose 52% to 78,100 units.
German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz reported that its core car business experienced an 8% year-on-year decline in sales during the third quarter, totaling 407,200 units. This downturn was largely attributed to challenging market conditions, particularly in China, where sales plummeted by 31% to 86,800 units compared to the same period last year. The company's Top-End segment also saw a 21% decrease in quarterly sales, reaching 53,900 units, affected by the weaker market environment and ongoing model changeovers.
Despite the overall decline, Mercedes-Benz observed positive sales trends in other regions, with car sales rising by 6% in the U.S. and 5% in Europe. Furthermore, the company's focus on electrification showed significant progress, as group sales of battery-electric vehicles, encompassing both cars and vans, surged by 52% to 78,100 units.
Additional reporting indicates that Mercedes-Benz Group's total sales for the third quarter reached 525,300 cars and vans, a 12% decrease from the previous year. Mercedes-Benz Cars sold 441,500 cars, also down 12%, influenced by market conditions and tariff policies impacting sales in the U.S. and China. Mercedes-Benz Vans saw an 8% decline in sales to 83,800 vehicles. Battery electric vehicle sales for cars and vans rose 9% year-on-year, according to rttnews.com. Earlier in the year, in the second quarter of 2026, Mercedes-Benz car sales had fallen 8% with a 30% drop in China, while BEV sales across the group increased 50% year-on-year.