Get your automotive data ad-free: become a premium member today!

Mercedes EV Sales Plunge in Q3: The Company Will Keep Investing in Combustion Engines

Mercedes-Benz EV lineup
Credit: Mercedes-Benz
Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player...

Summary

  • Mercedes electric car sales have dropped significantly in the third quarter of 2024, contrasting sharply with the increasing sales of its rival, BMW.
  • Mercedes-Benz has recently adjusted its ambitious EV targets for 2030, reflecting a broader industry trend of declining consumer interest in electric vehicles.
  • The company has announced plans to extend its investment in internal combustion engine development, suggesting a more balanced approach to powertrain technology.
  • Other automakers, including Volkswagen and Volvo, have also faced difficulties in achieving their EV sales goals, indicating a broader industry trend.
  • The declining sales of electric vehicles raise questions about shifting consumer preferences and the long-term viability of the EV market.

Mercedes-Benz faced a challenging third quarter as its electric vehicle (EV) sales took a significant hit. Both its passenger car and van divisions saw a marked decline in demand for fully electric models, reflecting a broader global downturn in EV interest. This trend arrives just months after Mercedes-Benz announced a strategic shift, tempering its ambitious EV targets for 2030—a move that is closely correlated with this recent slump. Meanwhile, competitors like BMW have reported substantial gains in EV sales, highlighting a sharp contrast in the luxury automotive landscape. 

The recent sales figures underscore the shifting dynamics in consumer preferences for electric vehicles and raise questions about Mercedes-Benz’s long-term EV strategy. As the industry continues to navigate a volatile market, Mercedes-Benz continues re-adjusting its approach to fully electric models and even announced the company will extend investment in internal combustion engine development further than anticipated.

No Membership? You’re missing out

Get immediate ad-free access to all our premium content.

Daily Tracker
Oil Crisis Monitor
Updated: Oct 24, 2026 — 4:17 AM MT
Strait of Hormuz
237
Days
Day 237 — Brent at six-month high; tanker struck off Oman. The strait remains closed.
Day 237: Brent settles at a six-month high; UKMTO logs a tanker struck off Oman and the IRGC says two more supertankers hit mines.
Brent Crude
+59.6% since closure
$116.72
/bbl
Today: +$3.55 (+3.1%)
U.S. Gas Avg
+43.2% since closure
$4.30
/gal
Today: unchanged
WTI Crude
+49.7% since closure
$103.27
/bbl
Today: +$3.80 (+3.8%)
Next
IMF PortWatch weekly Hormuz transit update
3 days
Oct 27
USMCA Tariffs
25% IEEPA + 232 duties
IN EFFECT
206
Day
2026 SAAR Forecast
16.1–16.8M
▼ 16.8M
prev. forecast
View Full Tracker →
Public agencies & commodity exchanges