{
  "id": 13887493,
  "title": "Autoindustrie: Diese beiden SUVs entscheiden die Aufholjagd von BMW und Mercedes – einer liegt deutlich vorne",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/autoindustrie-diese-beiden-suvs-entscheiden-die-aufholjagd-von-bmw",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-12T05:58:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/industrie/bmw-oder-mercedes-wer-schafft-es-mit-seinem-elektro-suv-schneller-aus-der-krise/100258039.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "The decisive duel between BMW and Mercedes-Benz, as they scramble to regain ground in the automotive industry, is being decided by two new electric SUV models - the BMW iX3 and the Mercedes GLC. Introduced at the IAA car show in Munich last year, these two vehicles were presented by their respective manufacturers as their flagship electric models. According to a recent analysis by the Handelsblatt, the GLC has seen significantly lesser sales compared to the iX3, with more than double the number of European buyers opting for the BMW model between March and August. Data from Dataforce reveals that the iX3 accounted for 36,500 new registrations while the GLC only reached just over 16,100 units in the same period. These two electric cars represent more than just sales figures, as they are critical for the future of their respective companies. BMW launched the iX3 as part of its 'New Class' platform, while the GLC is seen as the 'fateful model' by Mercedes' CEO Ola Källenius. Both models are technologically advanced and promise quick charging times and high range, as they are equipped with the latest battery generation. The electricization in Europe continues to advance, with Chinese competitors flooding the market, making it crucial for these premium manufacturers to defend their market positions with innovative models. The BMW iX3 was praised in performance tests, especially noting its higher sales during the spring. Particularly, the iX3 outsold the GLC in the spring due to a two-week earlier market introduction and temporary supply issues with the GLC. The GLC shortages were caused by a lack of battery cells from the Chinese supplier CATL and difficulties in procuring wiring harnesses, issues that have since been resolved. Mercedes sales of the GLC have picked up since June, with an elevenfold increase in August compared to March. In August, the iX3 was registered around 6,700 times in Europe, while the GLC was registered nearly 5,400 times. In July, the gap between the two sales was more than twice as large. BMW made a strong start in the spring, surpassing 10,000 new sales in Europe by mid-May for the iX3, which has since slightly declined. The trend shows that customers were likely buying the car without ever driving it, as reported by dealer circles. However, Mercedes is also satisfied with the development of the new model. BMW has indicated that the iX3 has already surpassed 100,000 pre-orders, with the orderbook filled until the second quarter of next year. BMW recently introduced a more powerful variant, the iX4 Coupé, while Mercedes refrains from providing figures on pre-orders. However, the management shows satisfaction with the demand for the GLC, which is the most sold electric car in the history of BMW. Production in Bremen runs 24/7, and the electric models are reportedly sold out by the end of the year. Mercedes speculates internally that BMW could overtake them by the end of the year. Tesla's Model Y is selling better, with BMW and Mercedes capturing relevant market shares in this segment. Since the beginning of the year, BMW has secured a 7.7% share of new electric SUV registrations in the middle-class segment, trailing behind Tesla's Model Y and Skoda's Enyaq. Mercedes holds the tenth position with a market share of 3.3%. They are well-positioned in the business segment with more than 57% of new registrations coming from fleets, while private buyers account for 29% in BMW and 27% in Mercedes. Mercedes also sees a significant portion (22%) of sales coming from strong pre-orders and rental car companies, while BMW only accounts for 11%. The new electric SUVs have sold better than their combustion engine counterparts, which have been on the market for several years. While the combustion GLC had 4,500 registrations in August, the electric version sold 5,400 units. The BMW iX3 sold twice as many units as the Mercedes X3. No trend reversal is expected in China, as the sales of German automakers in the country have been declining for years, severely impacting their margins and profits. BMW had to issue a profit warning in June due to the worsening Chinese market conditions. Mercedes had to correct its sales forecasts downward as well. The new electric SUVs have sold better than their gasoline counterparts since their launch, but without significant improvement in China, it remains to be seen if BMW and Mercedes can truly turn things around.",
  "summary": "Mit ihren Elektro-Modellen iX3 und GLC wollen beide Premiumhersteller endlich elektrisch durchstarten. Exklusive Zahlen zeigen deutliche Fortschritte – und einen abgeschlagenen Dritten.",
  "key_points": [
    "BMW iX3 outsold Mercedes GLC in spring due to earlier market introduction",
    "GLC sales increased 11-fold in August compared to March",
    "BMW has secured 7.7% share of new electric SUV registrations in middle-class segment"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}