The German luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz reported a decline in second-quarter passenger car sales on Wednesday, even as its sales of electric vehicles (EVs) surged by more than 50 percent.

In the second quarter of 2026, Mercedes-Benz group sold 417,800 passenger cars worldwide, representing a decline of eight percent compared with the previous year.

In comparison, the company sold a total of 52,900 EVs globally in the second quarter, representing a 51 percent increase year-on-year. The company's EV sales in Europe surged 87 percent to 43,500 units, while sales in the German market saw an explosive growth of nearly 100 percent during the quarter.

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz car sales in China in the second quarter slumped by 30 percent year-on-year "amid intense competition, cautious consumer sentiment, ongoing model transitions and active sales steering."

"China remains a key market for Mercedes-Benz and plays a central role in the company's localisation and innovation strategy," according to a press release by the Mercedes-Benz group.