Why Is the New Mercedes GLC EV €24,000 Cheaper in China?

Mercedes began selling the Mercedes GLC EV in China in May, where it starts at 349,000 yuan (around €47,500), almost €24,000 less than in Europe. Why is there such a huge price difference between Europe and China?

Mercedes sales in China have been increasingly affected by local premium competitors that offer more and more premium models at ever-lower prices.

While Mercedes sold 758,000 vehicles in China in 2020, sales fell to just 551,900 units in 2025, a decline of nearly 27%. As a result, the German premium manufacturer has had to adapt its pricing to the Chinese market in order to withstand increasingly fierce local competition, especially in the electric vehicle segment.

As a result, the new Mercedes GLC EV — which is called GLC EV in China (while in Europe it is marketed as the GLC EQ) — is available in China for 349,000 yuan, equivalent to approximately €47,500. In Europe, the Mercedes GLC EQ starts at €71,281. But is it really the same car?

The answer is clearly no. There are major differences in the powertrain, battery, and equipment. Let’s look at them one by one.

Both versions are based on the MB.EA platform with 800-volt technology. However, in Europe, the GLC 400 4MATIC features two electric motors producing 489 PS and 800 Nm, powered by a 100 kWh gross (94 kWh net) NMC battery. In China, the Mercedes GLC EV is powered by two motors delivering 421 PS and 800 Nm, supplied by a smaller 89 kWh gross (85.5 kWh net) NMC battery.

This naturally results in different driving ranges. The European model offers a WLTP range of 713 km. The more lenient Chinese CLTC standard claims a range of 703 km, but this corresponds to only about 589 km under the WLTP cycle.

Another major difference concerns dimensions. Mercedes models designed for China typically have longer wheelbases, and the GLC EV is no exception.

The Chinese-market Mercedes GLC EV measures 4,949 mm in length, 1,970 mm in width, and 1,710 mm in height, while the European model measures 4,858 mm long, 1,913 mm wide, and 1,649 mm high. Therefore, the Chinese version is more massive, being 91 mm longer, 57 mm wider, and 61 mm taller. Its 3,027 mm wheelbase is also 55 mm longer, providing additional rear-seat passenger space.

Despite having a larger battery and more compact dimensions, the European model is slightly heavier, weighing 2,535 kg compared with 2,515 kg for the Chinese version.

Although the price difference between China and Europe is almost €24,000 in favor of the Chinese model, standard equipment is also more generous in China. For example, air suspension comes as standard in China, whereas in Europe it is part of the optional Agility & Comfort package together with rear-wheel steering, costing an additional €2,844.

Very Different Equipment Strategies

In China, Mercedes offers two versions: a base model and a Gold version. In Europe, there is only one version, but it can be extensively customized with numerous optional equipment packages.

The interior, however, is largely similar, featuring the same massive 99.1 cm display in the top-spec version. The operating systems differ significantly, though. In Europe, the new MB.OS system uses Google services and artificial intelligence from Google, Microsoft, and ChatGPT. In China, where Google services are unavailable, the Mercedes GLC EV relies on Doubao AI and proprietary software called Xiao Ben.

The driver-assistance systems also have different suppliers. In China, Mercedes works with the local company Momenta, which provides features such as automatic lane changes, the ability to memorize and retrace the last meters driven, and driving assistance in urban areas and on highways up to certain speeds.