Mercedes-Benz Group sold 594,600 cars and vans in the third quarter, 3% down on the same quarter of 2023, in what it described as a ‘challenging environment’.
However, the company said sales of Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars continued to rise quarter-on-quarter, driven by improved product availability. It also said softer demand, mainly in Asia, affected overall sales. Mercedes-Benz Vans also faced a softening environment in the third quarter especially in the core markets Germany, US and China.
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Mercedes said the market environment for battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales remained subdued (46,900 – down 31% Q3 versus last year) with competitive pricing in important markets. Sales of plug-in-hybrids increased by 10% globally in the third quarter mainly driven by the US market.
Mercedes said sales of ‘top-end’ vehicles in particular were impacted by a slowdown in China to 61,800 units, affecting sales of S-Class family vehicles.
Sales of Mercedes-AMG performance cars increased 8% compared to Q3 2023, thanks to improved product availability.
Mercedes said sales in its ‘core’ segment increased by 4% quarter-on-quarter to 301,000 vehicles, and by 4% compared with the prior-year period, driven by further improved availability of GLC models and the market introductions of CLE models.
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By GlobalDataSales in North America increased significantly by 29% compared to prior-year quarter, driven by ‘good sales momentum in the US market after full availability of GLC models and further market launches of Mercedes-AMG models’.
Quarter-on-quarter sales in Europe remained stable, reaching 158,300 vehicles. Market development remained mixed, with positive sales momentum in the UK, where Q3 sales rose 17% compared to last year.
Quarter-on-quarter sales in Asia remained subdued, particularly in the top-end segment, with 226,300 units sold.
In Q3, Mercedes said the macroeconomic environment softened, ‘first and foremost in China which impacted overall sales’. An overall lower consumption, especially for luxury goods and continued discounting mainly in the EV segment, affected sales in China. The new E-Class was launched in October in India, while overall Q3 sales increased by 21%.
