Beijing Motor Show Auto China 2026: Mercedes
Vehicles on display
- Mercedes C-Class EV
• D-segment sedan / BEV
• Expected annual global volumes: 90,000, including 40,000 in China
- Mercedes GLB EV
• C-segment SUV / BEV
• Expected annual global volumes: 100,000, including 70,000 and 20,000 in China
Context
- German automaker Mercedes, which has been producing cars in China since the early 2000s through its local partner BAIC (Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation), is expected to unveil its new C-Class Electric sedan at the Beijing Motor Show. This new model will not replace the current internal combustion engine C-Class launched in 2021, but will be added to the existing lineup. Information regarding the new C-Class Electric will be released at the opening of the show. Mercedes is also expected to present the GLB Electric SUV, which was unveiled in Europe a few months ago. Both models will be produced locally to meet domestic demand, in addition to those produced in Europe for the Chinese market. Mercedes has seen a gradual decline in sales in China since 2022, with the German brand's production volume (excluding Smart) falling from 644,000 units in 2022 to 641,000 in 2023, 596,000 in 2024, and 470,000 in 2025.
- Mercedes must therefore try to revive its sales in China to maintain its market share in the country, and the launch of new mid-range electric models seems entirely relevant in a market that favors purchases of mid-range and often electrified vehicles. The share of BEVs sold in China reached 28% in 2025 and even 29% in the first quarter of 2026.