Mercedes-Benz backs off plan to only sell EVs by 2030
Mercedes-Benz is backing off its plan to only sell electric vehicles after 2030, the company said Thursday. It was the latest evidence that the global auto industry is feeling more dour about the all-electric future after a slowdown in sales growth.
It was only three years ago that Mercedes was feeling quite bullish about plug-in powertrains, saying that by 2030 it would only sell EVs. At the time, the company said it would completely phase out gas-powered vehicles, while including the caveat “where markets allowed.”
Now it seems that the market is not allowing Mercedes to follow through on its plans. Today, the company said in its fourth quarter earnings statement that it only expects 50 percent of its sales to be all-electric — a significant drop from the once rosier outlook. Gas and hybrid vehicles will remain a part of the company’s future for years to come.
It was only three years ago that Mercedes was feeling quite bullish about plug-in powertrains
“Customers and market conditions will set the pace of the transformation,” Mercedes said in its report. “The company plans to be in a position to cater to different customer needs, whether it’s an all-electric drivetrain or an electrified combustion engine, until well into the 2030s.”
Not even in Europe, where EV sales growth outpaces North America’s, does Mercedes expect to transition to EV-only sales anytime soon, the company’s CEO Ola Källenius told Reuters. “It’s not going to be 100% in 2030, obviously… from the whole European market, but probably from the Mercedes side as well,” he said.
His comments are the latest from an auto executive to express more caution about the EV future. Tesla CEO Elon Musk warned that the company is bracing for significantly slower sales growth in 2024, while EV-only companies like Rivian and Lucid said they expect production to stay flat this year. Other companies, like GM and Ford, have delayed factory construction or canceled models.
EV sales hit nearly 8 percent of the total number in the US last year, while in Europe they represented 13 percent. Sales are still growing, but customers are becoming more discerning about price, while expressing concern about charging time and reliability.
Meanwhile, hybrid sales have increased significantly, as more people see the benefit of hedging their bets while the charging infrastructure gets built out.
Mercedes-Benz is backing off its plan to only sell electric vehicles after 2030, the company said Thursday. It was the latest evidence that the global auto industry is feeling more dour about the all-electric future after a slowdown in sales growth. It was only three years ago that Mercedes was…
Recent Posts
- LG Promo Codes and Coupons for June 2026
- 30% Off Canon Promo Codes | June 2026
- Steam Machine and Steam Frame are coming ‘this summer’
- Valve says it’s ready to launch the Steam Machine this summer
- Best Buy slashes up to $400 off Apple tech in a limited-time sale — get AirPods, MacBooks, iPads and Apple Watches from $99.99
Archives
- June 2026
- May 2026
- April 2026
- March 2026
- February 2026
- January 2026
- December 2025
- November 2025
- October 2025
- September 2025
- August 2025
- July 2025
- June 2025
- May 2025
- April 2025
- March 2025
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023