- Mercedes-Benz Cars January to March deliveries reach 501,600 (-15%) units in a challenging environment primarily due to semi-conductor constraints
- Global demand remains strong, Mercedes-Maybach and S-Class deliveries up 161% and 67%
- Mercedes-Benz xEV sales rise 37% (plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles) to 67,800 units of which 21,900 (+210%) units were battery electric vehicles (BEV)
- EV ramp-up to continue in 2022 with the launch of the EQS SUV
Mercedes-Benz, the world’s most valuable luxury car brand saw deliveries of S-Class vehicles rise 67% and sales of plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles reach 67,800 units in the January to March quarter even as the semiconductor supply shortage and COVID-19 restrictions affected business.
Despite the challenging environment, sales of top-end vehicles (Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, G-Class, S-Class, GLS and EQS) reached 76,200 (+1%), boosted by a new best-ever quarter for Mercedes-Maybach.
The electrification of the brand continues to gather pace. Driven by the EQA, EQS and the EQC (EQC400: combined power consumption: 21.5 kWh/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km)[1] models, Mercedes-Benz was able to more than triple sales of battery electric EQ models to reach 21,900 (+210%) units. Plug-in hybrid vehicles also set a new first-quarter record with 45,900 (+8%) sales. In total, the Mercedes-Benz Cars xEVs (BEV including smart and plug-in hybrids combined) now amount to a share of 15% of new car sales. In Europe, Mercedes-Benz xEV deliveries accounted for 33% of overall sales, and in the United Kingdom, almost every fifth new car sold is a battery electric vehicle.
Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing and Sales said: „In a challenging first quarter, we were able to more than triple our battery electric vehicle sales and posted a stellar result with our top-end vehicle segment. Ongoing strong demand for our electrified vehicles in all segments and markets proves that customers desire our EVs and plug-in hybrids. And with the launch of our new EQS SUV on April 19th we further accelerate our transformation.”
Despite geopolitical uncertainties and the semiconductor supply situation, global demand for Mercedes-Benz vehicles remains strong. However, due to the unstable political environment and continued restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation remains volatile.
The top-selling model remains the GLC with 100,400 units sold in the first quarter of 2022. The all-new GLC will have its official world premiere in June following successful winter testing (link).
Sales of Mercedes-Benz in the Asia region amounted to 249,000 (-12%) units between January and March with Korea recording its highest ever car registrations for March. The deliveries in China were affected by the recent COVID-19 situation and reached 192,700 (-14%) units.
In Europe, sales reached 151,000 (-14%) vehicles of which Germany accounted for 50,600 (-7%) units. While sales in the North America region totaled 70,700 (-20%) units, 62,300 (-20%) passenger cars were delivered to customers in the United States.
