In the first quarter of 2026, Mercedes-Benz sold 499,700 cars and vans, remaining in line with company expectations. Supporting the performance was primarily the push from electrification: battery electric vehicles (BEVs) recorded double-digit growth of +11% at the Group level. At the same time, global car sales increased by 5% excluding China, thanks to the positive contribution of key markets such as Europe and the USA, which partially offset the more complex trend in the Chinese market.
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Mercedes and the push from electrification
With reference to Mercedes-Benz Cars, the company reports a particularly strong dynamic in Europe and Germany: BEVs grew by +34% and +36% respectively, driven by the debut of the brand-new electric CLA. Commercial demand also appears solid: orders for electric CLA, GLB and GLC remained high even in the second half of the year, while in Europe the new S-Class garnered orders above expectations, even after the publication of sales data for January. On the commercial vehicle side, the growth of eVans (+29%) highlights a positive trend for electric vehicles in the van segment, accompanied by stable demand for traditional commercial models.
Range strategy
The product strategy remains a pillar to support the sales increase expected for 2026: the Star brand speaks of a “strong” pipeline and multiple highlights in the first quarter. These include the world premieres of the new S-Class, VLE, Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, GLE and GLS, as well as the ability to maintain high demand in continuity with the most recent launches. While maintaining confidence in the outlook, Mercedes also emphasizes attention to external risks: the geopolitical context, the conflict in the Middle East and the potential impact on consumer confidence globally remain variables to be monitored carefully.
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