Stuttgart, April 29, 2026 Mercedes-Benz profit drops 17 percent in Q1 2026 Mercedes-Benz Group announced a 17% year-over-year decline in net profit for the first quarter of 2026, marking another setback for the struggling automaker.
Financial Performance
The Stuttgart-based automaker reported a net profit of €1.43 billion ($1.54 billion) for the January-March period, down from €1.73 billion in the same quarter last year. This continues a troubling trend for the Dax-listed company, which saw profits plummet by 43% in 2025 after already weak results the previous year.
Operating earnings (EBIT) fell 16.8% to €1.9 billion from €2.3 billion, while revenue dipped nearly 5% to €31.6 billion. The figures underscore persistent challenges facing the luxury car manufacturer, including declining sales volumes and margin pressures.
Sales and Market Challenges
Global vehicle deliveries dropped 6% to 419,400 units in Q1 2026, compounding the company's financial woes. This follows a catastrophic 2025 when Mercedes-Benz's annual profit halved from €10.4 billion to €5.3 billion.
"2024 was already a difficult year for our business," the company stated in its earnings release, acknowledging the extended downturn. The automaker has faced headwinds in key markets, including China, where economic conditions and competitive pressures have weighed on performance.