Mercedes Q3 Off
CFO calls electric-vehicle market ‘brutal.’

Mercedes said increased net pricing of cars and greater premium van sales volume partially balanced out inflation, supply costs and currency factors.
IMAGE: Pexels/Pixabay
Mercedes’ third-quarter revenue and profit fell in what it called a “subdued market environment marked by intense price competition, particularly in the electric vehicle segment.”
The German luxury automaker’s passenger car sales dropped about 5%, it said in part due to a supplier shortage.
Earnings before interest and taxes fell 7% to $5.1 billion as revenue fell more than 1% to $39.2 billion.
The company said increased net pricing of cars and greater premium van sales volume partially balanced out inflation, supply costs and currency factors.
Mercedes stuck with its prior full-year guidance despite the results, though Reuters reported that Chief Financial Officer Harald Wilhelm called the EV market “brutal” and that he could “hardly imagine” the current environment is sustainable, with some carmakers selling EVs for less than gas-powered models despite them being more expensive to produce.
Multiple automakers have said recently they’re slowing their earlier accelerated plans to transition to all-EV lineups as demand has failed to meet expectations.
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
More Industry

World EV Adoption Set to Grow
A new report says the segment, despite recent setbacks in some regions, is poised for acceleration as many countries look to reduce pollution.
Read More →
Black Book: Weekly Market Update
Wholesale automotive auction business stayed steady last week as bidders encountered lower prices, analysts observed.
Read More →
Pricing Transparency Drives Purchase Consideration
An annual study by JD Power found that clear pricing matters to consumers on automaker websites, so much so that it increases their purchase consideration.
Read More →
Black Book: Weekly Market Update
Used-vehicle market depreciation was the prevailing story in the wholesale market last week.
Read More →
Smaller Is Looking Better
A growing number of Americans in the market for a new vehicle are opting for more affordable options, not waiting for market stability to bite the bullet.
Read More →
U.S. EV Market Slowly Stabilizes
U.S. electric-vehicle interest is slowly stabilizing since a major dip in sales after last year's end of the federal EV tax credit, and hybrids remain the leading electrified power train.
Read More →
Global EV Market Entering New Phase
Automakers are making investments to lower battery costs and optimize production to meet changing consumer needs.
Read More →
Black Book Weekly Market Update
The holiday weekend, not surprisingly, put a drag on wholesale automotive activity last week, analysts observed.
Read More →
Auto Affordability in Context
Cox Automotive points out the complex circumstances that have led to eye-popping vehicle prices.
Read More →
Black Book: Weekly Market Update
Automotive auction inventory increased last week, giving choosy bidders even more leeway.
Read More →