71,000 sales in just 1 year: there is already a 6-month wait time for Mercedes’ best electric vehicle with a range of 790 km.

26/10/2026 16:30

Updated to

26/10/2026 16:30

Mercedes’ major bet in electric vehicles isn’t the Mercedes AMG GT nor the AMG GT SUV, the most powerful electric SUV in the world. In fact, Mercedes’ best electric vehicle, thanks to its range of up to 790 km, went on sale just over a year ago: in September 2025.

The Mercedes CLA has far surpassed the sales success that was anticipated for it. In fact, according to the German specialty website JESMB, it already has a 6-month waiting list. And note that it’s not the only Mercedes electric vehicle with such a long wait time: the GLC SUV — which we’ve compared to its rival from BMW — has also reached this waiting period.

71,000 units sold in just 1 year: Mercedes’ best electric car

Claiming that the Mercedes CLA is the brand’s best electric car isn’t our statement—it’s what’s being said in the United States thanks to its record-low real-world fuel consumption of 14 kWh/100 km, which slightly exceeds the 12.3 kWh/100 km reported for the CLA 250+ model, as well as its promised 790 km range.

With those figures, sales have been excellent. The Mercedes CEO, who has criticized the EU for rising car prices, said a year ago that it was “the beginning of a new era,” and Mathias Geisen, the brand’s sales director, confirmed just a few months ago that sales of the electric CLA “have far exceeded all expectations.”

In numbers, that means 71,000 vehicles sold in just 1 year—more precisely, 13 months—since its launch in September 2025. And this figure isn’t provided by Mercedes; it’s given by market research firm Dataforce for the respected German newspaper Handelsblatt.

But there are consequences: waiting times of 6 months already

The truth is that Mercedes’ electric vehicle sales are soaring. In just the third quarter of 2026, Mercedes achieved global sales of 68,400 electric sedans, a 61% increase compared to the same period last year. When including electric vans, sales reached 78,100 vehicles, marking a 52% rise.

In addition, the aforementioned Mercedes CLA and GLC electric models are the most in demand. This has consequences: the German plants in Bremen and Rastatt—where this sedan, the brand’s best electric vehicle, is manufactured—as well as the Hungarian plant in Kecskemét, are already operating on three shifts. The battery factory at its Accumotive subsidiary in Kamez operates six days a week.

Nevertheless, demand for both vehicles—the brand’s best electric sedan thanks to its 790 km range—and its GLC SUV still results in wait times of over 6 months.

This was confirmed by Geisen just a few days ago, stating that delivery times for these models “are around 6 months.” Such delays mean that those who place an order today will have to wait until April 2027.