With 2,164,187 units sold in 2020 (-7.5%) Mercedes-Benz remains the best-selling premium brand in the world.
Despite the pandemic that affected many car markets in the world, Mercedes-Benz achieved a very good result, managing to keep its 1st place of the best-selling premium brand in the world. At the same time, the decrease in sales of only 7.5% is small compared to the massive decreases of many large markets like USA and Europe.
In contrast, the Asia-Pacific region recovered faster, mainly due to the recovery of the Chinese market. Mercedes sold 1,024,315 units in the Asia-Pacific region in 2020 (+ 4.7%) due to a record of 774,382 units sold in China (+ 11.7%). In Europe, Mercedes sold 784,183 units (-16.4%) while in North America 317,592 customers (-14.7%) bought a new Mercedes in 2020.
Sales of electric and Plug-In Hybrid models exceeded 160,000 units, of which 115,000 plug-in Hybrid, 27,000 electric smart, around 20,000 Mercedes EQC and 1700 Mercedes EQV. Thus, in 2020 the market share of electrified models reached 7.4% of total sales compared to 2% in 2019.
Mercedes GLC is the best selling model with around 320,000 units
The best-selling Mercedes model in 2020 was no longer the C-Class but the Mercedes GLC with about 320,000 units. At the same time, sales of the compact range (A, B, CLA, CLA shooting brake, GLA, GLB) increased by 3.6% to 691,000 units.
Sales of SUVs (GLA, GLB, GLC, EQC, GLE, GLS) also registered a substantial increase of 12.9%, reaching 885,000 units sold. The highest percentage increases were registered by GLE (+ 32.1%) and GLS (+ 21.1%).
The Mercedes-AMG sports division also recorded a good result considering the medical situation in 2020. Mercedes-AMG sold 125,129 units (-5.3%). Records were reached in China (+ 32.3%) and the USA (+ 1.5%).
The Mercedes S-Class continued to remain the world’s best-selling luxury sedan with 60,000 units in 2020, although last year saw a change of generations. Launched in September 2020, the new Mercedes S-Class has already registered 40,000 orders.
| Change in % | Jan. – Dec. 2020 | Change in % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 2020 | ||||
| Mercedes-Benz | 615.328 | 0.2 | 2.164.187 | -7.5 |
| smart | 16.385 | -43.5 | 38.391 | -67.1 |
| Mercedes-Benz Cars | 631.713 | -1.8 | 2.202.578 | -10.3 |
| Mercedes-Benz Vans (commercial models) | 103.892 | 1.7 | 325.771 | -8.9 |
| Mercedes-Benz Cars & Vans** | 735.605 | /// | 2.528.349 | /// |
| Car unit sales by the Mercedes-Benz brand in the regions/markets | ||||
| Europe | 236.599 | -3.6 | 784.183 | -16.4 |
| - thereof Germany | 95.265 | 6.3 | 286.108 | -10.1 |
| Asia-Pacific | 277.712 | 12.6 | 1.024.315 | 4.7 |
| - thereof China | 204.684 | 22.2 | 774.382 | 11.7 |
| North America | 89.195 | -16.7 | 317.592 | -14.7 |
| - thereof USA | 78.078 | -15 | 274.916 | -13 |
