With around 10,000 electric cars sold in China since the beginning of the year, given the potential of this market, Mercedes seems to be encountering some difficulties, particularly in the face of competition from local manufacturers. The German manufacturer has just made a huge price drop.
You have certainly not missed the emergence of many Chinese manufacturers, especially in the field of all-electric. At the last Paris Motor Show, Chinese manufacturers were present in large numbers to present their new products ready to break out on the Old Continent.
On the other side of the planet, if European manufacturers were still on the rise in the Middle Kingdom a few years ago, the trend has largely reversed with the move upmarket of Chinese manufacturerseven for segments premium access and premium. Just look at the latest models presented by BYD, for example, which have little to envy to certain premium Europeans, or even cars from the Nio brand.
European and American manufacturers in difficulty in China
In China, European manufacturers are having more and more difficulty. Stellantis is currently cleaning up its range, Volkswagen is beginning to ask itself serious questions about the presence of certain brands in China, Tesla has had to review its price list after a drop in sales, while Mercedes is currently suffering with fairly poor results. weak.
Mercedes sold approx. 8,800 electric vehicles in the country from January to Julyaccording to data from China Automotive Technology and Research Center, even including the less expensive EQA, EQB and EQC. Really very average data for a market like China.
Even very high-end models, such as the EQS, are struggling to establish themselves in China. Mercedes does not even sell 100 EQS per month in China. A disappointment when you know the potential of this market and the success met in particular by the thermal version, the S-Class.
In China, domestic automakers account for nearly 80% of electric vehicle sales in the first seven months of the yearaccording to China Passenger Car Association. The Chinese giant BYD, which targets more thepremium accessof course, unlike Mercedes which is aiming for the premiumsold nearly 220,000 electric vehicles in October alone.
Mercedes has therefore decided to react and review the price list of some of its models, starting with its two large sedans, the EQE and EQS. In China, an EQS traded from 1.19 million yuan (about 162,000 euros). The starred firm has reduced the price of its model to 956,000 yuan (around 130,000 euros), i.e. a decrease of around 32,000 euros.
The EQE also sees its prices drop and goes from 528,000 yuan (about 72,000 euros) to 478,000 yuan (about 65,000 euros). A commercial gesture will also be made for customers who have placed an order for an EQE or an EQE a few days before the presentation of this new price list.
In its official communication, Mercedes simply mentions “tariff repositioning” of its range, without disclosing the reasons. But given the sales figures, it seems all found.
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