Sales of Mercedes-Benz autos dropped considerably within the second quarter, the German automaker reported Monday, noting the decline was resulting from COVID-related lockdowns in China and associated provide points.
From April by means of June, the carmaker shipped 490,000 passenger automobiles, a 16% lower in comparison with the second quarter final 12 months. Overall gross sales fell 16% to 998,000 deliveries within the first half of 2022.
But the U.S. proved a counterpoint to different markets. Mercedes-Benz retailed 98,835 autos for the quarter, 79,105 Mercedes-Benz passenger automobiles and 19,730 vans, a 6.9% improve from the identical interval final 12 months.
“Our customer demand remains high, especially the desire for fully electric vehicles,” mentioned Dimitris Psillakis, president and CEO of MBUSA.
In distinction, China, Mercedes-Benz’s largest market, noticed the worst decline in second-quarter gross sales, falling by 25% to 163,700 autos.
So, what’s promoting stateside?
The GLC, GLE, and C-Class mannequin traces have been amongst Mercedes-volume Benz’s leaders within the second quarter.
The GLC had the very best total gross sales with 19,149 models, adopted by the GLE with 16,458 gross sales. With 8,650 models, the C-Class completed third. The GLC, GLE, and GLS have generated probably the most quantity for MBUSA up to now this 12 months with respective totals of 36,059, 32,448 and 12,394.
High-end autos nonetheless in demand
The all-electric Mercedes-EQ EQS Sedan offered 1,959 models within the second quarter, bringing the year-to-date complete to 4,048 autos. Worldwide, Mercedes-EQ gross sales nearly doubled to 23,500 models, with first half demand for Battery Electric Vehicles rising to 134% to 45,400 models, with credit score going to the EQE.
Mercedes-AMG high-performance mannequin gross sales in Q2 reached 7,145 models, up 2.3% over the prior quarter. Globally, gross sales of Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, G-Class, S-Class, GLS and EQS reached 71,900 models, down 16% resulting from provide constraints, in accordance with Mercedes-Benz.
S-Class gross sales proved significantly sturdy, rising to five,077 models from 373 within the second quarter of 2021, a 950.9% improve.
Sedans proceed to see their gross sales slide
Other sedans have seen U.S. demand quickly declining 28.6% to five,077 models final quarter from 7,106 autos throughout the identical interval final 12 months. The story was related with the C-Class, declining 14.3% to eight,650 models final quarter from 10,099 autos throughout the identical interval final 12 months. The automaker mentioned that gross sales of its core luxurious autos declined 6% throughout the globe, to 275,900 autos.
CLA demand dropped -16.5% to 1,941 models from 2,324 year-over-year. The A-Class proved an exception, with gross sales rising 10.7% to 2,905 models from 2,624 sedans within the second quarter of 2021.
But year-to-date, demand off 31.8 p.c. International gross sales of entry-level luxurious autos totaled 132,600 models, down 32%, largely because of the transition to electrical autos. BEV gross sales now account for 14% of complete gross sales, up 50% from the identical interval final 12 months. Mercedes-Benz EQA deliveries elevated by greater than 50% to 7,000 models, whereas the EQB reported 5,500 gross sales globally.
“The electric ramp up is gaining traction,” mentioned Seeger. “It shows that we offer compelling electric vehicles that our customers desire.”
Better gross sales forecast for the subsequent six months
Separately, demand for Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned autos reached 33,096 models within the second quarter and 66,025 models 12 months thus far in 2022, which is the second-best efficiency in any 12 months’s first half.
Going ahead, the corporate forecasts 2022 gross sales of Mercedes-Benz autos to extend barely from 2021.
“The expansion of our electric portfolio with three new models over the next six months, including SUV and additional AMG models, will assist our dealers in welcoming more customers to the Mercedes-Benz family,” Psillakis mentioned.
Source: www.thedetroitbureau.com
