Mercedes-Benz Group delivered 78,100 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) worldwide in the third quarter of 2026, an increase of 52% year-over-year. Electric vehicles accounted for approximately 16% of the group’s 491,700 car and van deliveries, as demand for new models strengthened in Europe while passenger car sales in China continued to decline.
Third-quarter BEV deliveries rose 24% compared with the second quarter. Passenger cars accounted for 68,400 units, up 61% year-over-year, while electric vans contributed 9,700 units, an increase of 12%.
Across all powertrains, Mercedes-Benz Group sales fell 6% year-over-year. For the first nine months of 2026, the group delivered 1.503 million cars and vans, also down 6%. BEV deliveries over the same period increased 38% to 191,400 units.
Electric Models Boost Sales in Europe
Mercedes-Benz Cars delivered 407,200 passenger vehicles worldwide in the third quarter, an 8% decline from the same period a year earlier. However, its electric passenger car deliveries increased to 68,400 units, lifting the BEV share of passenger car sales to 16.8%.
Including plug-in hybrids, electrified vehicles accounted for 25% of Mercedes-Benz Cars’ global sales during the quarter.
Europe remained the company’s strongest market for fully electric passenger cars. BEV deliveries in the region increased 78% year-over-year and 24% compared with the second quarter. Mercedes-Benz reported that almost one in three passenger cars sold in Europe during the quarter was fully electric.
The electric CLA, GLC and GLB contributed to the increase. Sales of the electric GLC more than tripled compared with the second quarter, while electric CLA sales rose 24%. The CLA also expanded into additional markets, including the United States and Japan.
The new electric GLB also made a strong start, according to the company. Mercedes-Benz said demand for the battery-electric GLC, CLA, GLB and GLA had exhausted available European sales allocations for the remainder of 2026, with order books extending into 2027.
The company said its plants in Bremen and Rastatt in Germany and Kecskemét in Hungary were operating on three-shift schedules to meet demand.
China Passenger Car Sales Fall 31%
China continued to weigh on Mercedes-Benz Cars’ overall performance. The company sold 86,800 passenger cars in the country during the third quarter, a 31% decline year-over-year amid challenging market conditions and intense competition.
The GLC and E-Class together accounted for almost two-thirds of Mercedes-Benz Cars’ sales in China and proved more resilient than the broader market.
The company said the locally produced electric GLC L, launched in July, was increasing its sales momentum and had received a positive customer response. Mercedes-Benz also launched the locally produced GLE L SUV in mid-September.
Further technology updates are planned for China, including an artificial intelligence-powered cockpit and an advanced driver assistance system expected to be introduced across almost the entire model range in the coming months.
Outside China, Mercedes-Benz Cars’ sales increased 1% year-over-year for the third consecutive quarter of growth in 2026. Europe recorded a 5% increase, while North America grew 4%. Sales in Germany rose 13%.
The company did not disclose separate BEV sales figures for China, North America or other individual regions outside Europe.
Mercedes-Benz Reports Record Quarterly BEV Sales
Mercedes-Benz Group board member Mathias Geisen, responsible for Sales & Customer, said the company’s new electric models had helped it achieve a quarterly milestone.
“Mercedes-Benz Cars achieved the highest quarterly BEV sales in the company’s history, led by the electric GLC, whose sales more than tripled compared with Q2. Outside China, car sales increased for the third consecutive quarter in 2026. Our new electric models GLC, CLA, GLB and GLA are sold out in Europe for the rest of the year, with order books extending into 2027. This demonstrates that our product launch programme is in full swing.”
Mercedes-Benz plans to use its expanding electric vehicle lineup to increase BEV sales further in 2026. The electric C-Class is another model expected to contribute to growth, with orders having opened in Europe in May.
The company did not report a separate global figure for plug-in hybrid deliveries. Based on its reported electrified vehicle share and BEV sales, plug-in hybrids accounted for approximately 8% of Mercedes-Benz Cars’ total third-quarter sales.
Electric Vans Reach 11.5% of Deliveries
Mercedes-Benz Vans delivered 84,400 vehicles worldwide in the third quarter, up 1% year-over-year. Electric vans accounted for 9,700 units, an increase of 12% from the same period in 2025 but a decline of 4% compared with the second quarter of 2026.
The electric share of van deliveries reached 11.5%, up from 10% in the third quarter of 2025. In Europe, the share increased to 15% from 14% a year earlier.
For the first nine months of 2026, Mercedes-Benz Vans delivered 258,800 vehicles, down 1% year-over-year. Electric van deliveries increased 28% to 25,800 units.
The results highlight the contrasting performance of Mercedes-Benz’s electric vehicle business across regions. Strong demand for new BEV models in Europe has lifted deliveries to a record quarterly level, while weaker passenger car sales in China continue to challenge the group’s broader sales performance.
