Mercedes has started selling more electric cars for the first time in a while

Mercedes is finally seeing real momentum with its electric cars, marking a turnaround in its latest quarterly results.

While global sales were slowed by market conditions in China and new tariffs, the German automaker’s electric push is beginning to pay off.

Battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales jumped 22 percent from the previous quarter, while plug-in hybrids rose 20 percent, driven by the first deliveries of the new electric CLA.

Across the group, Mercedes sold 525,300 cars and vans in the third quarter of 2025, with EV sales up 9 percent year-on-year.

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Luxury vehicles led a lot of the growth

Mercedes-Benz sold 441,500 vehicles in the quarter, boosted by strong results in Europe, South America, and the Gulf States.

In the US, the carmaker kept stock levels tight to manage tariffs, but still grew customer deliveries by 6 percent year-to-date.

In China, the focus was on long-term value, with top-end models like the S-Class and Maybach performing particularly well, as luxury sales rose 13 percent year-over-year.

Globally, high-end vehicles made up 15.4 percent of Mercedes’ total sales, led by the G-Class, AMG, and S-Class, each posting double-digit growth.

Electric and hybrid models reached 96,300 units, reflecting growing demand for the brand’s latest electric products.

Mercedes says this quarter kicks off the ‘biggest product and tech launches’ in its history, which includes the upcoming electric GLC, electric C-Class, and CLA Shooting Brake.

Mercedes is balancing EVs with its ICE lineup

The company’s current EV strategy centers on flexibility rather than speed.

While its earlier ‘EQ’ sub-brand helped it break into the market, lukewarm demand for some models prompted a rethink.

The company now plans to integrate electric models directly into its core lineup, dropping the EQ label altogether.

Instead, Mercedes intends to build them on modular platforms that can handle both electric and combustion powertrains.

The new CLA AMG, for example, uses the company’s new MMA platform, designed to simplify production and cut costs.

The automaker has also been working to make its EVs cleaner to produce, using low-carbon aluminum and sustainable materials in new models.

Of course, the company has also learned that going all-in on electric cars was a mistake.

Going forward, Mercedes aims to expand its electric portfolio while staying profitable and adaptable in markets where EV demand is still developing, which is certainly a delicate balancing act.

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