Mercedes-Benz global sales drop 5 percent, but EVs grow 90 percent

China lapped up the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class with close to 900 units being sold each month.

Published On Jan 16, 2022 08:00:00 AM

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Mercedes' sales in 2021 were largely affected by the semiconductor crisis.

Mercedes-Benz suffered a five percent drop in global sales in 2021, as it was heavily impacted by the semiconductor supply chain bottlenecks, which gripped the automotive industry.

The German firm sold 20,93,496 vehicles between January and December 2021 – 70,691 units down on pandemic-hit 2020 – and was hit particularly badly in the fourth quarter, when sales dropped by 24.7 percent.

Sales of plug-in vehicles climbed significantly, though, with 2,27,458 sold, representing a growth of 69.3 percent. Of these, nearly 99,301 were pure-electric – a 90.3 percent uptick.

Maybach, AMG and G-Class post record sales

The firm’s luxury, performance and off-road sub-brands also recorded positive results. “In a challenging year, Maybach, AMG and G-Class vehicles posted new records,” said Britta Seeger, Mercedes-Benz board member for marketing and sales.

Some 15,730 Maybach models were sold, mostly in China, where almost 900 units of its ultra-luxurious take on the S-Class were delivered each month.

Meanwhile, global sales of AMG models soared by 16.7 percent to 1,45,979 units, while the ultra-rugged G-Class SUV found 41,174 homes worldwide.

Demand for EVs increases

Orders for the EQS electric limousine reached 16,370 since its launch in August last year, Mercedes-Benz said. As its electric and electrified car line-up continues to grow, the firm anticipates it will record a continuing decline in emissions across its line-up.

Mercedes-Benz says demand was high in the fourth quarter of 2021, despite the semiconductor supply bottlenecks, and insists customers will have their orders fulfilled.

“Mercedes-Benz is making every effort to ensure that surging customer orders can be fulfilled as soon as possible,” said Seeger. “The date when a customer placed an order is taken into consideration when scarce chips are allocated for vehicle production. The semiconductor supply situation remains volatile and the shortage is expected to impact the upcoming quarters in terms of production and sales.”

Mercedes-Benz also achieved a 2.6 percent rise in commercial vehicle sales, with 3,34,210 units sold, credited to an increase in demand in the first half of the year. Around 9,000 electric vans were sold for commercial use – double the figure of 2020.

Mercedes-Benz sales in India

Mercedes-Benz’s Indian arm trumped other luxury carmakers to claim the market leader position with sales of 11,242 cars in 2021. This, however, was a 42.5 percent jump over a low base of 2020, when it sold 7,893 units.

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