Mercedes-Benz may have missed out on the luxury sales crown in 2021 to BMW based on self-reported figures, but the Stuttgart marque can take solace in the performance of its most premium, high-profit cars.
Brands have prioritised high-profit cars throughout the semiconductor shortage, but Mercedes-Benz was also assisted by the relative newness of many of its ritziest models.
This is interesting because Mercedes-Benz in recent years has derived more and more volume from entry products such as the A-Class and GLA, aimed at younger buyers new to the brand.
”In a challenging year, Maybach, AMG and G-Class vehicles posted new records,” claimed Mercedes-Benz Board of Management member Britta Seeger.
Overall, Mercedes-Benz Cars delivered 2,093,476 vehicles (down 5.0 per cent) between January and December. This excludes Smart and the Vans division.
Some key take-away from within this wider figure include:
Mercedes-AMG performance division: 145,979, up 16.7 per cent
The key here is to compare the sales growth of AMG contrasted to the sales decline of the wider brand. Nevertheless BMW M GmbH 163,542 (up 13.4 per cent) claimed to beat it.
Mercedes-Maybach ultra-luxury division: 15,730, up 50.7%
The 2021 monthly run rate of Maybachs in China was 900 units, meaning about 10,800 sales for the calendar year.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class: 87,064 sales, up 40 per cent
The former pinnacle of the MB range before the electric EQS came along, S-Class limo sales surged. Unsurprisingly, more than one-third of worldwide demand came from China. On a side note, EQS orders for 2021 sat at 16,370.
Mercedes-Benz G-Class: 41,174
The iconic 4×4 brick in its latest incarnation has never found more buyers across a year, Mercedes-Benz claims. It also set a new record here in Australia.
MORE: Luxury sales race – BMW claims title over Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Tesla
