Mercedes-Benz H1 sales: Global BEV demand surges by 30% despite a 6% contraction in overall vehicle deliveries

16 Jul 2026, 11:50

Mercedes-Benz recorded a substantial surge in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales during the first half of the year, yet overall market demand for the brand's vehicle models contracted rather than grew.

This trend, also observed by several other major European and American car manufacturers, has become a prevailing industry phenomenon.

Data shows that the Mercedes-Benz Group sold a total of 1,011,500 vehicles globally in the first half of the year, a 6% drop compared to the same period in 2025. Sales performance in the first quarter remained positive, registering a 2% increase with 511,900 units sold, indicating that the overall sales decline only materialised in the latter half of the first half of the year. Performance was even weaker when isolating the Mercedes-Benz passenger car division, which includes light commercial vehicle operations.

Year-to-date, global sales for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars totalled 837,200 units, a 7% year-on-year decline. Specifically, second-quarter sales fell 8% year-on-year to 417,800 units. However, the business retained bright spots: demand for battery electric vehicles remained robust, although the brand has yet to release independent sales figures for individual electric models.

Mercedes-Benz sold a total of 97,100 electric cars this year, a 28% surge compared to the same period last year; the trajectory in the second quarter was even more impressive, with electric vehicle sales jumping 51% year-on-year to 52,900 units. Including electric vehicle sales from the Mercedes-Benz light commercial vehicle division, overall battery electric vehicle sales year-to-date rose to 113,300 units, a 30% year-on-year increase.

The brand noted that the all-electric CLA, all-electric GLC, and all-electric GLB models were the primary drivers of sales growth, while strong demand in the European market also served as a key factor underpinning overall electric vehicle deliveries.

In stark contrast to the impressive performance of electric vehicles, Mercedes-Benz traditional internal combustion engine vehicles and most non-electric models showed lacklustre sales. Sales for the brand's flagship model lineup, including AMG, Maybach, G-Class, S-Class, GLS, EQS, and EQS SUV, fell 8% year-on-year this year, recording 119,600 units.

Regarding core models, covering popular vehicles such as the C-Class, E-Class, EQE, and EQS SUV, sales fell 7% to 497,300 units; entry-level models like the A-Class, B-Class, EQA, and EQB saw sales drop 5% to 220,300 units.

Mercedes-Benz explained that the decline in flagship model sales was partly due to the brand's regular product refresh cycles, alongside adjustments to the arrival and delivery schedules of new models. It was also noted that the G-Class maintained a steady performance, recording a 3% year-on-year increase in deliveries during the second quarter.

The group's overall sales decline was primarily dragged down by the Asian market. In the first half of the year, Mercedes-Benz passenger car sales in Asia plummeted 25% to 291,000 units. The Chinese Mainland saw the most significant drop, falling 28% year-on-year to 212,000 units; the second-quarter decline widened further, with quarterly sales down 30% to 98,600 units.

However, Mercedes-Benz revealed that several China-exclusive models designed specifically for the Chinese market, including the long-wheelbase electric GLC L SUV, will officially launch in the Mainland later this year, expected to help reverse the sales downturn.

Aside from the Asian market, overall sales in the brand's other overseas markets also fell by 11%. In contrast, performance in the European and North American markets was solid, with European sales increasing by 5% this year, and North American sales surging by 15%, making them the group's two major growth markets.