In its core passenger car business, the Stuttgart-based premium brand reported a nine percent decline, delivering a total of 1.8 million vehicles, the company announced on Monday. The steepest losses were recorded in China, where sales fell by 19 percent, as the company faces pressure from cheaper domestic electric vehicle providers and declining demand for combustion engine cars.
In the United States, sales to dealers dropped by twelve percent, while deliveries to customers actually rose by one percent. The US government under President Donald Trump is making life difficult for foreign manufacturers with sharply increased import tariffs, aiming to strengthen American automakers.
The brand with the star is suffering more than its arch-rival BMW from the challenging global environment. The Munich-based company solidified its position as the world's leading premium segment manufacturer, despite a slight decline to 2.17 million vehicles for its core brand.
(Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach, edited by Jörn Poltz. For inquiries, please contact the editorial management at frankfurt.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com)
