Mercedes profits halved as tariffs weigh on company and estimates decline

Mercedes is also feeling the effects of the difficult period for the automotive industry , despite the fact that the first half of 2025 figures remain positive. Net profits , in fact, amounted to 2.68 billion euros , a 55.8% decrease compared to the same period in 2024, when they had been just over 6 billion. Turnover fell from 72.6 to 66.4 billion , a decrease of 8.6%. Weighing on the figures was, in addition to the decrease in sales, the impact of American tariffs , estimated at 420 million dollars for the period between April and June. Cash flows , on the other hand, increased in the second quarter of the year, amounting to 1.9 billion euros (compared to 1.6 in the second quarter of 2024), and to 4.2 billion in the half-year (they had been 3.9 billion last year). However, all three business units of the group recorded a positive EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes).

In the first half of this year, Mercedes - Benz Cars sold 899,974 vehicles , a 6.2% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. The decrease is attributed to market trends , particularly in China, a slight reduction in net selling prices , and inventory management implemented to respond appropriately to the imposition of tariffs. Registrations of electric vehicles also decreased by 18.9%, amounting to 75,733 units . Revenue from the automotive division was 48.4 billion euros, down 8.5%. EBIT, at 2.54 billion, halved compared to the first half of last year, when it was 5.21 billion.

In the first half of 2025 , Mercedes-Benz Vans sold 176,336 vehicles , 15.6% fewer than in the period from January to June last year. However, electric vehicles bucked the trend, growing by 41.9% (for a volume of 11,621 units, equal to 6.6% of total van registrations). This division's turnover was 8.32 billion euros, a decrease of 14%, while EBIT (503 million) fell by 71.5%. Mercedes-Benz Mobility , the division that deals with financial services, leasing and mobility solutions, recorded turnover of 12.67 billion euros in the first half of the year, a decrease of 4%, while EBIT (577 million) fell by 2.9%.

The Mercedes-Benz Group's outlook for 2025 as a whole is not optimistic, as sales in the second half of the year are typically slightly lower than those in the first half. Even more significant is the decline in sales of light commercial vehicles , whose market is showing signs of decline compared to 2024. Therefore, the German group expects "significantly lower" revenues for the second half of 2025 than last year, with operating margins on passenger cars ranging between 4% and 6%, compared to an initial forecast of 6% to 8% (in 2024 they were 8.1%). This trend is primarily attributed to tariffs and increased competition in Asian markets (and beyond) from Chinese manufacturers.