Mercedes EV sales triple in gangbusters first quarter

Mercedes-Benz has issued its sales figures from the first quarter of 2022, confirming a significant surge in interest for the brand’s plug-in vehicles with sales of fully electric vehicles tripling year-on-year.

In total, the three-pointed star sold 67,800 PHEV and BEV vehicles worldwide in Q1. This represents a 37% increase on Q1 of 2021.

More specifically, the brand sold 21,900 fully electric vehicles in the most recent quarter; amounting to a significant 210% increase year-on-year.  With 45,900 sales, PHEVs made up the majority of the figures, showing an 8% increase.

In a statement, Mercedes-Benz says the increased sales are driven by the EQA, EQS, and EQC models.

The plug-in successes weren’t reserved to passenger cars. Mercedes also reports that it sold 2700 electric commercial vehicles in the first quarter, a 133% lift on the same period last year. The brand is set to launch its electric van line-up in New Zealand later this year.

Inevitably, plug-in sales were vastly outnumbered by sales of internal combustion engine vehicles. The German marque sold 501,600 vehicles total in Q1, including Smart models and all commercials.

What’s significant is, unlike with its plug-ins, the number of ICE vehicles Mercedes sold in Q1 trended downwards relative to Q1 of 2021. While EV and PHEV sales were up, overall sales were 15% down.

The news comes as Mercedes announces a pledge to reduce its emissions by half by 2030, complementing its previous pledge to be CO2 neutral by 2039.