There are encouraging signals from Europe: Weak Chinese business is taking a toll on Mercedes

In the world's largest car market, Mercedes is delivering a third fewer cars to customers in the summer than in the previous year. In other regions, however, the brand with the star is growing. The group has recorded a big increase in electric cars.

The ongoing weakness in sales in China further burdened the car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz in the summer. In the core Mercedes-Benz Cars division, sales fell by eight percent from July to the end of September compared to the previous year to 407,200 vehicles, the company announced. In China, the decline continued with a decline of almost a third to just under 87,000 cars. In contrast, the brand with the star recorded five and six percent growth in Europe and the USA.

Like the other German manufacturers, the Stuttgart-based car manufacturer is suffering from the weakness of the entire market in China, where demand for combustion cars is falling rapidly and customers prefer domestic providers when it comes to electric cars. Sales in the world's largest car market have been in reverse gear at Mercedes for around two years. The new electric GLC in the long version got off to a good start in China.

In Europe, the Swabians can particularly score points with their new electric cars. “Our new electric models GLC, CLA, GLB and GLA are sold out in Europe for the rest of the year,” explained sales boss Mathias Geisen. The order books lasted until 2027. Globally, Mercedes-Benz achieved a sales record for electric cars in the third quarter with 68,400 sales - an increase of 61 percent over the year. In Europe, sales of electric cars rose by 78 percent. This means that every third Mercedes-Benz car sold in Europe is now a purely electric car. “This shows that our model offensive is in full swing,” said Mercedes Sales Director Mathias Geisen.

By the end of September, passenger car sales were 1.24 million units, seven percent below the previous year. The backlog for vans is smaller - 258,800 vans and vans were delivered to customers within nine months, a decrease of one percent. Last year, Mercedes sold just over 1.8 million cars, a decline of nine percent compared to 2024. In the medium term, the passenger car division is expected to achieve sales of around two million vehicles again. The company recently left it open when exactly this goal should be achieved. In any case, it is not expected in 2027, but before the end of the decade.