Worldwide sales by Mercedes-Benz Cars sales rose 3% year on year to 503,500 units (+3%) in the first quarter of 2023 with what the automaker dubs ‘Top End’ and battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales up 18% and 89% respectively.

“Despite ongoing supply chain disruptions, economic headwinds and geopolitical uncertainty, G-Class, Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach and Entry segment electric vehicles posted strong sales figures,” the company said in a statement.

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Battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales rose 89% to 51,600 units, taking 10% of overall sales, up from 6% in Q1 2022. BEV sales (Smart now excluded) rose 119%. Entry segment electric vehicles proved popular with EQB sales up 189% and EQA sales rising 64%.

BEV sales surged 327% in the US and 41% in Europe.

Including hybrids, almost every fifth vehicle sold in the first quarter was electrified.

”Our customers’ desire for our Top-End products and battery electric vehicles is the driving force behind our sales result in the first quarter,” said sales chief Britta Seeger.

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“We successfully introduced our direct sales model in the UK, while Germany and two more markets will follow in 2023.”

Europe sales increased 8% to 163,900 units thanks to strong demand for Top End vehicles (+46%). BEV sales rose 41% and accounted for 17% of total Europe sales.

Overall sales in Germany were up 21% with BEVs up 29%. Belgium sales increased 17% as BEV volume rose 186% while sales in Italy (+22%) and Spain (+28%) also rose.

Asia sales rose 3% to 247,700 units. The E-Class was the top selling vehicle in China with 48,700 units sold (+11%), followed by the C-Class (+37%). BEV sales rose 109%.

In Korea and Japan, BEV sales grew 288% and 379% following further model launches.

India sales increased 17 while Malaysia volume was up 53%.

Sales in North America rose only 1% though US BEV sales surged 327% and now account for 14% of total sales following launches of four new models.

“Sales in the rest of world were influenced by Mercedes-Benz’s decision to stop its business activities in Russia from March 2022 onwards,” the automaker said, without elaborating.

Sales overview
 Q1 2023Q1 2022Change in % 
Mercedes-Benz Cars 503,500 487,000+3% 
–       thereof BEVs 51,600 27,400+89% 
     
Mercedes-Benz Cars sales by segments*    
Top-End segment 91,800 78,100+18% 
Core segment 248,400 280,200-11% 
Entry segment 163,300 128,800+27% 
     
Mercedes-Benz Cars sales by regions and markets    
Europe** 163,900 151,300+8% 
–       thereof Germany 60,500 50,000+21% 
Asia 247,700 239,400+3% 
–       thereof China 191,000 186,100+3% 
North America*** 75,100 74,200+1% 
–       thereof U.S. 64,500 64,700+0% 
Rest of World 16,800 22,000-24% 
  • *Top-End: Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, G-Class, S-Class, GLS, EQS and EQS SUV
  • *Core: All derivatives from C- and E-Class, incl. EQC, EQE and EQE SUV
  • *Entry: All derivatives from A- and B-Class incl. EQA, EQB and smart
  • ** Europe: European Union, United Kingdom, Switzerland and Norway
  • *** North America: USA, Canada and Mexico

All figures rounded.

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