Mercedes-Benz car sales fall 8% in third quarter

Mercedes-Benz core passenger car deliveries dropped 8% year over year in the third quarter of 2026 to 407,200 units. The decline reflected sustained weakness in demand in China, which offset growth across Western markets.

Deliveries in China fell 31% to 86,800 units during the period. The group also saw deliveries in its lucrative Top-End segment decline 21% year over year to 53,900 units.

Performance was stronger in other major markets. Passenger car deliveries rose 6% in the United States and 5% in Europe compared with the third quarter of the prior year.

Battery-electric vehicle sales provided a bright spot for the automaker. Mercedes-Benz Group delivered 78,100 electric vehicles in the quarter, an increase of 52% from a year earlier.