Mercedes reports a new record for electric car sales in Q3 2026
Image: Mercedes-Benz
The Mercedes‑Benz Group sold 491,700 passenger cars and vans worldwide in the third quarter, a 6 percent decrease from the previous year’s quarter. Sales of fully battery electric passenger cars and vans (BEV) rose to 191,400 units at the group level, representing a 52 percent increase compared to the same quarter last year.
Outside of China, sales of passenger cars and vans increased by 2 percent compared to the previous year’s quarter. Ongoing challenging market conditions in China weighed on overall global sales, which declined by 6 percent year over year.
Mercedes‑Benz Cars
Mercedes-Benz Cars sold 407,200 passenger cars worldwide in the third quarter of 2026, a decrease of 8%. As in the first two quarters, total sales outside China were above the previous year’s level, up 1%, driven by continued growth in Europe and North America. Globally, passenger car sales were 8% lower than in the same quarter last year, largely due to the challenging market conditions in China.
In the segment of electric vehicles, Mercedes-Benz Cars set a new record in the third quarter with 68,400 units sold worldwide. This represents a 61% increase compared to the previous year’s quarter and a 29% rise from the second quarter.
"Mercedes-Benz Cars achieved the highest quarterly sales volume of fully electric vehicles in the company’s history, led by the electric GLC, whose sales more than tripled compared to the second quarter. Outside of China, passenger car sales rose for the third consecutive quarter in 2026 compared to the previous year. Our new electric models GLC, CLA, GLB, and GLA are sold out in Europe for the rest of the year; order books extend through 2027. This shows that our model offensive is in full swing," said Mathias Geisen, member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Sales & Customer Affairs.
The share of fully electric vehicles in total sales rose significantly worldwide to a new high of 16.8 percent, 7.2 percentage points higher than in the previous quarter. In Europe, Mercedes‑Benz Cars’ BEV sales reached a new quarterly record, increasing by 78 percent compared to the previous year and by 24 percent versus the second quarter. Nearly one in three Mercedes cars sold in Europe was fully electric. Including plug-in hybrids, 25 percent of Mercedes‑Benz Cars’ global sales in that quarter came from electrified vehicles (xEV).
The manufacturer is pleased, saying, “Customer demand for the new electric portfolio continued to grow.” “To meet this high demand, the plants in Bremen, Rastatt, and Kecskemét are operating on three shifts.”
Mercedes‑Benz Vans
Mercedes-Benz Vans achieved global sales of 84,400 units in the third quarter of 2026. Outside China, total sales increased by 6 percent compared to the previous year’s quarter. This growth was driven by rising customer demand in North America (+8%) and strong growth in the Rest of the World region (+25%). Overall, Mercedes-Benz Vans’ sales rose by 1 percent compared to the previous year.
In terms of electric vans, Mercedes-Benz recorded continued growth: sales increased by 12 percent to 9,600 vehicles. The global share of electric vans rose accordingly to 11 percent (Q3 2025: 10%); in Europe, it was even higher at 15 percent (Q3 2025: 14%).
The commercial van segment grew by 4 percent compared to the previous year. Demand for large vans remained strong, with their sales increasing by 15 percent.
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About the author
Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive industry and finance sector. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions on ecomento.de. Learn more.
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