Mercedes-Benz Group sales rose moderately in the first quarter of this year, boosted by electric vehicles and its most expensive cars.
Global vehicle sales increased 3 percent to 503,500 vehicles, with Europe posting the strongest growth at 8 percent, Mercedes said in a statement on Wednesday.
Sales of full-electric cars were the main growth driver, with sales almost doubling to 51,600 units. Battery-electric-vehicle sales accounted for 10 percent of the brand’s overall volume, up from 6 percent in the year-earlier period.
The EQB full-electric crossover had the strongest growth among Mercedes’ EVs, with volume up 189 percent. Sales of the EQA sales rose by 64 percent, while EQS SUV sales reached 5,500 units.
The top-end segment, which includes AMG, Maybach and G-Class models, also demonstrated solid growth of 18 percent, reaching 91,800 for the period.
Mercedes sales and marketing boss Britta Seeger said the EV and top-end segments posted strong results “despite ongoing supply chain disruptions, economic headwinds and geopolitical uncertainties.”
Sales in China increased 3 percent during the quarter while volume in North America rose by 1 percent.
Sales in the Mercedes-Benz Vans division grew 12 percent, reaching 98,900 — its best first-quarter result to date.
Automotive News Europe contributed to this report