Mercedes-Benz Wins London Appeal Reprieve as EV Order Books Fill Through 2027
Published on 10/11/2026 at 19:40 | Editorial boerse-global.de
Mercedes-Benz secured a procedural victory in London on Thursday, when the High Court of Justice declined to grant claimants permission to appeal an earlier ruling in the UK's diesel emissions litigation. Reuters reported the decision, which hands the Stuttgart automaker a temporary reprieve on one legal front. The claimants can still take their case directly to the Court of Appeal, so the matter is not fully closed for the manufacturers involved.
The earlier London ruling had dismissed the bulk of allegations against several carmakers. For Mercedes-Benz, Thursday's refusal amounts to breathing room rather than a final verdict.
A Split Sales Picture
That legal pause lands in the middle of a demanding operational stretch. The stock finished Friday's session at EUR 39.73, a modest gain of 1.3 percent on the day, yet still down 34 percent since the start of the year. The shares sit just above their 52-week low of EUR 38.90, touched on Thursday, with the company now in its customary quiet period ahead of quarterly figures.
Third-quarter deliveries told two very different stories. Group-wide sales of cars and vans fell 6 percent to 491,700 units, dragged down by China, where passenger car volumes slumped 31 percent year-on-year. Mercedes-Benz Cars alone shipped 407,200 vehicles worldwide, an 8 percent decline, with 86,800 passenger cars delivered in China.
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Mercedes-Benz?
Battery-electric demand ran in the opposite direction. Global BEV deliveries for the car division jumped 61 percent to 68,400 units, setting a quarterly record. In Europe, electric versions of the CLA, GLC, GLB and GLA are sold out for the remainder of 2026, and order books extend well into 2027.
Analysts Trim Targets on Margin Worries
Profitability in the core car business remains the market's chief concern. Citing worries over returns in the automotive division, several research houses cut their price targets on Friday. Exane BNP downgraded the shares to "Underperform" with a target of EUR 38.60. UBS adjusted its target to EUR 45 while keeping a "Neutral" rating. HSBC maintained its buy recommendation but lowered its target to EUR 61.
Buybacks and Internal Friction
Management continues to lean on capital measures for support. Between September 28 and October 2, 2026, the Mercedes-Benz Group AG repurchased 875,000 of its own shares, a transaction volume of roughly EUR 35.6 million. Since the start of September, the running buyback had reached 3,851,805 shares by that cutoff date.
Behind the scenes, cost-cutting talks have grown more contentious. According to a dpa report, friction between management and employee representatives has intensified over savings measures, working hours and site guarantees. A planned severance program and a deferred special tariff payment are among the points under discussion, as the company applies the knife in several areas to counter the weaker market environment.
Investors will get a fuller picture of the China drag and restructuring costs on October 28, 2026, when Mercedes-Benz Group publishes its complete third-quarter report and hosts its regular analyst conference. Until then, speculation over the scale of the China hit is likely to drive the share price.
Ad
Mercedes-Benz Stock: New Analysis - 11 October
Fresh Mercedes-Benz information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends.
