Group 1 - The performance of German luxury car manufacturers in the Chinese market has not improved in Q3 after a decline in sales during the first half of the year [2] - BMW's global sales increased by 8.8% year-on-year in Q3, while Mercedes-Benz and Porsche experienced a decline in sales [2] - In China, BMW's sales decreased by 0.4% to 147,000 units, while Mercedes-Benz and Porsche's sales fell by 27% and 20.7% respectively [2] Group 2 - Mercedes-Benz faced significant challenges in the Chinese market, with a 40% month-on-month decline in retail sales in July, marking the first time in five years that monthly sales fell below 28,000 units [2] - Porsche's sales in China have been on a downward trend, with a 15% decline in 2023 and a projected 28% drop in 2024 [3] - The competitive landscape in the luxury car segment in China has intensified, with local brands like AITO and Li Auto gaining market share [4] Group 3 - The traditional reliance on mechanical performance and brand premium by luxury brands is becoming insufficient in the era of smart electric vehicles [4] - BMW is the only German luxury brand with a notable presence in the electric vehicle market, while Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Porsche have underperformed [4] - Porsche has adjusted its product strategy to focus more on fuel and hybrid vehicles, slowing down the pace of electric vehicle development [5]

Core Viewpoint - The performance of German luxury car manufacturers in the Chinese market has not improved in the third quarter, with significant declines in sales for brands like Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, while BMW shows slight resilience in other global markets [3][4]. Group 1: Sales Performance - BMW's global sales in Q3 increased by 8.8%, but in China, sales decreased by 0.4% to 147,000 units [3]. - Mercedes-Benz and Porsche reported significant declines in their Chinese sales, with Mercedes-Benz down 27% to 125,000 units and Porsche down 20.7% to 11,000 units [3][4]. - In the first half of the year, Audi's sales in China fell by 10.2%, while BMW and Mercedes-Benz saw declines of 15.5% and 14%, respectively [3]. Group 2: Market Challenges - Mercedes-Benz faced severe challenges in the Chinese market, with a 40% month-on-month decline in July, marking the first time in five years that monthly sales fell below 28,000 units [3]. - Porsche's sales in China have been on a downward trend since 2022, with a 15% drop in 2023 and a projected 28% decline in 2024 [5]. - The competitive landscape in the luxury car segment has intensified, with Chinese brands like AITO and Li Auto gaining market share through their advantages in electrification and smart technology [5][6]. Group 3: Electric Vehicle Strategy - BMW is the only German luxury brand with a notable presence in the electric vehicle market, while Mercedes-Benz and Audi have struggled [6]. - Mercedes-Benz plans to phase out the "EQ" sub-brand and integrate electric models into its main product lineup [6]. - Porsche has adjusted its product strategy, slowing down electric vehicle development and shifting focus back to fuel and hybrid models [6].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint is that German luxury car manufacturers, particularly Mercedes-Benz, are facing significant challenges in the Chinese market, with declining sales figures compared to competitors like BMW and Porsche [1][2][3] - In the third quarter, BMW experienced a global sales increase of 8.8%, while Mercedes-Benz and Porsche saw declines, with Mercedes-Benz's sales in China dropping by 27% to 125,000 units [1] - The decline in sales for Mercedes-Benz is particularly severe, with a reported retail volume of 27,000 units in July, marking a more than 40% month-on-month decrease, the lowest monthly sales in five years [1] Group 2 - Porsche has also been struggling in the Chinese market, with a 15% drop in deliveries in 2023 and a projected 28% decline in 2024, leading to a total of 32,200 units sold in the first three quarters of 2023, down 26% year-on-year [2] - The competitive landscape in the luxury car segment is intensifying, with domestic brands like Wuling and Li Auto gaining market share due to their advantages in smart and electric vehicle technology [3] - Mercedes-Benz is shifting its strategy for electric vehicles, moving away from the "EQ" sub-brand to integrate electric models into its mainstream product lineup, with plans to launch a new electric model based on the MMA platform [3][4]

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the significant decline in sales and profits of Mercedes-Benz, a century-old luxury car brand, amidst fierce competition from domestic Chinese brands and a challenging market environment [2][4][21]. Financial Performance - Mercedes-Benz reported a net profit drop of nearly 69% year-on-year for Q2 2025, with revenue falling to €33.153 billion from €36.743 billion, a decrease of 9.8% [5]. - For the first half of 2025, total revenue was €66.377 billion, down 8.6%, and net profit decreased by 55.8% to €2.688 billion [5]. Sales Decline - In the first half of 2025, global deliveries of Mercedes-Benz vehicles fell by approximately 8% to around 1.0763 million units, with passenger car sales down 6% [7]. - The Chinese market, which is the largest single market for Mercedes-Benz, saw a 14% decline in sales, with Q2 sales dropping 19% [7]. Market Competition - Domestic brands like BYD and Geely are experiencing strong growth, with BYD's sales reaching 2.146 million units, a 33.04% increase, while Geely's sales surged by 126% [8]. - Mercedes-Benz's performance in the electric vehicle segment is lagging, with a 14% drop in pure electric vehicle deliveries, while competitors like BMW and Audi reported significant growth in their electric models [9][10]. Strategic Responses - In response to declining sales, Mercedes-Benz has initiated price cuts across its model range, with discounts reaching up to 15% [11]. - The average selling price of Mercedes-Benz vehicles fell by 5.73% to ¥381,600 [12]. - The company is also undergoing a restructuring of its dealership network, with several dealerships being closed or terminated [14][17]. Workforce Adjustments - Mercedes-Benz is reportedly negotiating with employees regarding job arrangements due to business restructuring, primarily affecting sales and automotive finance sectors [20]. Industry Transformation - The article emphasizes that the luxury car market is undergoing a transformative shift, with traditional players like Mercedes-Benz facing unprecedented challenges from emerging competitors [21].

Core Insights - Mercedes-Benz's global automotive and van sales declined by 9% year-on-year, totaling 547,100 units in Q2 2025, with a significant drop in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales by 18% to 41,900 units [1][3] - The North American market saw a 14% decrease in sales, while the Chinese market experienced a severe decline of 19%, contributing significantly to the overall performance downturn [1][3] Sales Performance - Total sales for Mercedes-Benz Group in Q2 2025 were 547,100 units, reflecting a 3% increase from Q1 2025 but a 9% decrease compared to Q2 2024 [3] - BEV sales specifically dropped by 8% from Q1 2025 and 18% from Q2 2024, totaling 41,900 units [3] - Sales by segments showed a mixed performance, with the Top-End segment remaining flat at 64,800 units, while the Core segment increased by 4% to 273,800 units [3] Regional Sales Breakdown - In Europe, sales increased by 7% to 159,700 units, with Germany showing a notable 16% rise [3] - Asia's sales decreased by 5% to 189,200 units, with China experiencing a significant 19% drop to 140,400 units [3] - North America saw a 5% increase in sales to 80,600 units, with the U.S. market up by 11% [3] Quality and Trust Issues - Mercedes-Benz faced quality and trust crises, including recalls affecting 16,100 vehicles due to safety hazards related to the fuse box and battery management system [3][4] - The company also dealt with widespread issues in its vehicle navigation systems, impacting several popular models [4] Strategic Adjustments - To address market changes, Mercedes-Benz plans to reduce production costs by 10% by 2027 and is focusing on enhancing its electric vehicle lineup [5] - The company aims to launch new models, including pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, starting in 2025, and plans to introduce several models tailored for the Chinese market [5] - Despite challenges, Mercedes-Benz remains committed to the Chinese market, with plans for additional investments exceeding 14 billion RMB to enhance local product offerings [5]