2023 (Full Year) Global: Mercedes-Benz and Smart Worldwide Car Sales

In full-year 2023, Mercedes-Benz Group (including Smart cars) worldwide sales increased by only 1.5% to 2,491,600 vehicles.

In full-year 2023, Mercedes-Benz Group (including Smart cars) worldwide sales increased by only 1.5% to 2,491,600 vehicles.
© Merceded-Benz 2023

2023 (January to December): Mercedes-Benz Group Cars and Vans global sales increase 1.5% to 2,491,600 in 2023. Mercedes-Benz Cars sales were flat at 2,043,800 Mercedes-Benz branded sales, while Van sales increased by 8% to 447,800 vehicles. Fully electric Mercedes-Benz passenger car sales rose by 73% to 222,600 vehicles, equivalent to 11% of overall worldwide sales.

Mercedes-Benz Group Worldwide Sales in 2023

Mercedes-Benz20232022% Change
Mercedes-Benz Group2,491,6002,456,0001.50%
Mercedes-Benz Cars2,043,8002,040,7000
– thereof Mercedes-Benz BEVs240,600149,20061%
– thereof Mercedes-Benz P.C. BEVs222,600128,70073%
– thereof smart fortwo/forfour BEVs18,10020,500-12%

Sales by Market Segment

Sales by Mercedes-Benz defined market segments worldwide were as follows:

SegmentSales 2023Sales 2022
Top-End 328,200 328,200+0%
Core1,096,8001,116,600-2%
Entry 618,700 595,900+4%
  • Top-End: Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, G-Class, S-Class, GLS, EQS and EQS SUV
  • Core: All derivatives from C- and E-Class, incl. EQC, EQE and EQE SUV 
  • Entry: All derivatives from A- and B-Class incl. EQA, EQB and smart 

Mercedes-Benz Cars sold 2,043,800 units in 2023 as demand for superior products resulted in a rise of Mercedes-Maybach (+19%), G-Class (+11%) and Mercedes-AMG (+4%) to 328,200 Top-End Vehicles last year. An additional 60,000 V-class and EQV models were sold in 2023.

Mercedes-Maybach sold 19% more vehicles in 2023, boosted by strong sales of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS and S-Class versions in all key regions. In Q4 Mercedes-Maybach launched its all-electric EQS SUV version in the U.S. market, ahead of its broader roll-out to other key regions in 2024. The rise in Mercedes-AMG sales (+4%) in 2023 included a 76% rise in high-performance battery electric vehicles.

Sales of the G-Class remained strong and once again increased by 11% in 2023 ahead of the introduction of the electric G this year. The S-Class remains the undisputed leader in its segment, retaining its market share with around 50% in all key regions.

Full-year sales in the Core segment reached 1,096,800 units (-2%) in 2023 mainly due to supplier bottlenecks and the model changeover to the new E-Class, which was introduced in China in December. Availability of the new GLC and E-Class was constrained in many markets due to a shortage of 48-Volt systems. The C-Class saw sales rise by 10% in 2023.

Entry segment sales reached 618,800 units (+4%) in 2023 driven by the strong demand of the EQA (+57%) and EQB (+109%).

Fully electric Mercedes-Benz passenger car sales rose by 73% during the year, to 222,600 units, equivalent to 11% of overall sales and 19% including plug-in hybrids. BMW did considerably better with electric car sales in 2023.

Mercedes-Benz Sales by Major Market or Country in 2023

Merecede-Benz sales in major markets and countries in 2023:

RegionSales 2023Sales 2022Change
Europe659,400618,9000.07
– thereof Germany234,300215,6000.09
Asia963,800988,200-2%
– thereof China737,200753,900-2%
North America339,500344,200-1%
– thereof U.S.298,000300,800-1%
Rest of World81,10089,400-9%

China remained the most important single-country market for Mercedes-Benz in 2023 followed by the US and Germany.

Mercedes-Benz Vans Sales Worldwide in 2024

Worldwide sales of Mercedes-Benz Vans increased in 2023

Worldwide sales of Mercedes-Benz Vans increased in 2023 by 8% to 447,800 units, which was the best-ever sales result yet. In the strategically important markets Europe and North America, sales grew by 8% to 279,400 units and 13% to 86,400 units respectively. In the United States, sales grew by 13% to an annual sales record of 75,100 units, making the strategically important US the 2nd largest van market worldwide.

Despite the challenging environment, Mercedes-Benz Vans remain in high demand. With total sales of 237,400 large, 178,900 mid-size and 31,500 small vans, Mercedes-Benz Vans achieved its best annual result to date in each segment. With around 22,700 eVans, sales of electric vans increased by 51% in 2023. Especially the demand for commercial vans has developed very strongly, with commercial van sales up by 9% to a total of 380,400 units sold. In the private segment, with 67,400 units sold (-1%), sales remained on a similar level as previous year, especially due to the upcoming model change of the mid-size vans in 2024.

Global Worldwide Car Sales by Brand in 2023 (Full Year)

→ USA Car Sales by Brand in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018

→ Global Worldwide Car sales by Brand in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020

Global worldwide sales by brand in 2023:

NOTE: “Sales” as reported by the various brands generally refer to deliveries and not necessarily sales to the customer or final registration. Terms and definitions may vary. All statistics are provided by respective car manufacturers unless clearly stated otherwise.

About the author:

Henk Bekker

Henk Bekker is a freelance writer with over 20 years of experience in online writing. His best-selling cars website has been reporting car sales statistics since 2008 with classic car auction prices focusing on the most expensive automobiles sold at public auctions in the past decade. He also owns the travel websites European-Traveler.com and Lake Geneva Switzerland. Henk holds an MBA from Edinburgh Business School and an MSc in Finance from the University of London.