The sales figures of the German car manufacturers Mercedes-Benz and BMW have significantly decreased in the third quarter. While Mercedes-Benz delivered 503,600 vehicles – a decrease of 1% compared to the previous year – BMW's sales fell by 13% to around 541,000 cars. The Chinese market is particularly affected, where both companies had to record substantial declines.

At BMW, sales in China dropped by 30% to 148,000 vehicles, resulting in the company achieving only a quarter of its total sales there. Additionally, a delivery stop due to issues with brakes from the supplier Continental led to a blockage of 320,000 vehicles that have not yet been handed over to customers. In Europe, on the other hand, BMW recorded only a slight decline of 1% with 219,000 cars sold.

Mercedes-Benz, on the other hand, sold 171,000 vehicles in China, which represents a decrease of 13%. Despite this decline, China remains an important market where more than a third of the company's total sales occur. In the profitable luxury segment, which includes the S-Class, Mercedes-Benz's sales even fell by 12%.

In the field of electromobility, a mixed picture emerges: While Mercedes-Benz recorded a significant decline in sales of fully electric vehicles by 31% to 42,500 units, BMW was able to increase its electric car sales by 10% to 103,000 units in the same quarter. Despite current challenges, BMW plans for a slight sales decline and a significant profit drop for the year 2024, after the company cut its annual forecast in September.

The weak demand in China and the additional logistical problems at BMW significantly impact the profitability of the two companies. While Mercedes-Benz continues its efforts to maintain its market position in China, BMW must find ways to compensate for the losses incurred due to delivery issues and regain customer trust.