Mercedes-Benz sold 499,700 cars and vans in Q1, with double-digit BEV growth and strong demand for new models supporting 2026 ramp-up
- Overall global car sales grew 5%, excluding China, supported by strong sales in Europe and the U.S.
- Strong BEV growth for Mercedes-Benz Cars in Europe (+34%) and Germany (+36%), driven by the all-new electric CLA
- Order books for electric CLA, GLB and GLC filled well into the second half of the year; Order intake for the new S-Class in Europe above expectations following January sales release
- Double-digit sales growth in eVans (+29%) and stable demand for commercial vans
- Strong pipeline of new products: Q1 highlights included the world premieres of the new
S-Class, VLE, Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, GLE, and GLS
In the first quarter of 2026, Mercedes-Benz Group sold 499,700 cars and vans, in line with the company’s expectations. Battery-electric vehicle sales increased by 11% at Group level. Strong demand for newly launched models and continued growth in key markets supported the ongoing product ramp-up in 2026.
Mercedes-Benz Cars
In line with expectations, Mercedes-Benz Cars recorded wholesale deliveries of 419,400 (-6%) cars in the first quarter. Excluding China, global sales increased by 5% compared with the prior year. Growth in the U.S. and Europe partially offset lower sales in China amid model-cycle effects, macroeconomic uncertainties and challenging market conditions. While recent model launches are supporting sales prospects in the coming quarters, the company continues to closely monitor the geopolitical environment, the conflict in the Middle East and its potential impact on global consumer sentiment.
“The first quarter was characterised by sales growth outside of China, alongside an excellent market response to our newly launched models. The new electric GLC has generated more orders in the first three months than any other electric vehicle in our history, while order intakes for the other new models, including the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class, significantly exceed our expectations. Further tailwinds will come from the recently unveiled GLE and GLS, alongside the upcoming world premiere of the all-new electric C-Class. As the availability of our new products scales up, we remain highly focused on converting strong customer interest into overall sales momentum in the coming months.”
Mathias Geisen, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG,
Sales & Customer Experience
Mercedes-Benz Cars sales by regions and markets
In
Europe, the positive trend of the previous quarter continued. Sales increased by 7% in the region. The development in Germany was particularly encouraging, with sales rising by 9%. Driven by the all-new electric CLA, Mercedes-Benz recorded exceptional overall battery-electric vehicle (BEV) growth in Europe (+34%) and Germany (+36%). As demand for the new CLA exceeds global production capacities, output is running at full capacity in three shifts at the Rastatt plant. In Rastatt, manufacturing of the all-new CLA Coupé and CLA Shooting Brake started last year, alongside the A-Class, GLA, and EQA. The Bremen plant is producing the electric GLC in three shifts, including additional Saturday shifts. In addition, the recent market introduction of the high-tech hybrid versions of the new CLA is expected to further support growth in the upcoming months.
The
United States proved to be a growth driver in the quarter, with sales increasing by 20% compared with the prior-year period. Strong wholesale growth reflects seasonal phasing and targeted network preparation to optimally equip retail partners for the coming months. Mercedes-AMG (+5%) and Mercedes-Maybach (+34%) recorded clear year‑on‑year growth, underlining continued demand for Top‑End vehicles in the U.S. Going forward, the company will place even greater focus on the localisation of products and value creation in this region. This commitment is exemplified by the Tuscaloosa plant, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary and marked the production of its five-millionth vehicle.
As expected, first-quarter sales in
China declined, primarily due to active steering and the planned phase-out of current models ahead of upcoming generational changeovers, particularly in the Entry segment. Despite this, Mercedes-Benz maintained its leading position in the vehicle segment priced above 1 million RMB. 2026 marks a transition year for Mercedes-Benz in China, influenced by the replacement of several key models. The company is rapidly expanding its portfolio of both battery-electric and state-of-the-art electrified combustion-engine vehicles. To meet strong local demand for highly intelligent cars, these new models are being equipped with the latest China-specific premium infotainment systems and advanced driver-assistance systems powered by the Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS). The recently unveiled Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Mercedes-Maybach S-Class exemplify this strategy, launching as the first Top-End combustion-engine models in China to feature these state-of-the-art smart technologies.
Sales development in the
'Rest of the World' (RoW) region saw an overall decline in the past quarter (‑14%). This was primarily driven by lower volumes in Turkey, alongside the impact of ongoing geopolitical challenges and the conflict in the Middle East. However, Argentina provided a very positive counterweight within the region: Following an overall improvement in the economic environment and the elimination of the local luxury tax, Mercedes-Benz recorded a noticeable revival in customer demand, which translated into an encouraging increase in sales.
Mercedes-Benz Cars Battery Electric sales
Mercedes-Benz recorded solid growth (+9%) in BEV sales, driven by strong demand for the company’s new generation of fully electric models. The attractiveness of the all-new electric CLA is particularly reflected in strong BEV growth in Europe (+34%) and Germany (+36%), where the CLA is already available to customers. Whereas in Europe the xEV share rose to 41% (Q1 2025: 37%), a planned phase-out of Plug-In Hybrid models in China led to a global xEV share of 19% (Q1 2025: 20%).
The strong market response to the electric CLA, which was awarded “Car of the Year 2026” in Europe, the electric GLC and GLB, as well as the upcoming world premiere of the all-new electric C-Class later this month, underpins the company’s ambition to significantly increase electric vehicle sales this year and double the xEV share in the medium term.
Mercedes-Benz Cars Top-End
The Top-End segment remains a cornerstone of the brand’s success, securing a 15% share in the first quarter, perfectly in line with expectations. Following the launch of the new flagship S-Class, the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class has now been presented to the public and will reach markets in a stepwise rollout throughout the year. Furthermore, the product launch programme in the Top-End SUV segment continued with the recent world premiere presentation of the new GLS at the Tuscaloosa plant.
Overall sales in the Top-End segment (-5%) were affected by model changeovers, particularly for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the Mercedes-AMG derivatives of the A-Class. Demand for Mercedes-AMG was driven in particular by the E 53 HYBRID 4MATIC+ Saloon and Estate (+43%) and the CLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupé and Cabriolet (+32%).
Sales overview Mercedes-Benz Cars
| | | | | Q1 2026 | Change
Q1 2025 |
| Mercedes-Benz Group | | | | 499,700 | -6% |
| – thereof BEVs | | | | 50,400 | +11% |
| | | | | | |
| Mercedes-Benz Cars | | | | 419,400 | -6% |
| – thereof BEVs | | | | 44,300 | +9% |
| | | | | | |
| Mercedes-Benz Cars sales by segment* | | | | | |
| – Top-End | | | | 61,500 | -5% |
| – Core | | | | 248,000 | -6% |
| – Entry | | | | 109,800 | -7% |
| | | | | | |
| Mercedes-Benz Cars sales by regions and markets | | | | | |
| Europe** | | | | 158,400 | +7% |
| – thereof Germany | | | | 49,300 | +9% |
| Asia | | | | 153,500 | -23% |
| – thereof China | | | | 111,600 | -27% |
| North America*** | | | | 89,600 | +16% |
| – thereof U.S. | | | | 81,100 | +20% |
| Rest of World | | | | 17,900 | -14% |
