Sales shock for BMW and Mercedes: Minus in China hits luxury brands!

Sales shock for BMW and Mercedes: Minus in China hits luxury brands!

Munich/Stuttgart – A worrying trend emerges in the latest sales figures from the two German automobile giants, Mercedes-Benz and BMW: While Mercedes recorded a decline in its sales figures in the third quarter, BMW experienced a dramatic decline in sales, particularly due to a delivery stoppage due to technical problems. These developments highlight the current market situation and the challenges that companies face.

BMW's sales fell a remarkable 13 percent last quarter. This means that only around 541,000 vehicles were sold, which the company confirmed in a press release. A key factor in this decline was a delivery freeze imposed on 320,000 vehicles not delivered to customers following concerns about a supplier's brakes. Global demand has also fallen sharply, particularly in China, where sales fell a shocking 30 percent to just 148,000 cars.

Problems in the luxury segment

Mercedes-Benz reported a milder decline in comparison, with total sales of 503,600 vehicles, down one percent from last year. The decline is particularly noticeable in the lucrative top segment, which also includes the S-Class - here the decline is as much as 12 percent. In China, a crucial market for luxury vehicles, sales fell 13 percent to 171,000 cars. Mercedes received a ray of hope, however, with more than a third of overall sales still coming from this important market.

The brand with the star is also struggling with a decline in fully electric vehicles: sales figures fell by 31 percent to 42,500 units. The company said the market environment for electric vehicles remains challenging in key markets, while BMW has seen growth in this area. Sales of fully electric vehicles rose by 10 percent to 103,000 vehicles in the third quarter, a development that illustrates the different strategies and challenges of the two companies.

Both companies are feeling the impact of a slowing market, particularly due to continued weak demand in China, one of the world's largest automotive markets. Recent sales figures suggest that both BMW and Mercedes need to rethink their strategies to meet changing consumer preferences and revive growth in an increasingly competitive market.

For further information and detailed insights into the sales disciplines of the two manufacturers the article on www.zvw.de be consulted.