Sales of the updated Mercedes-Benz CLA surged, reaching 13,138 units in Europe by early 2026, capturing the European compact luxury car market, writes UNN with reference to Autoblog.
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Just a few days ago, it was reported that Mercedes-Benz is once again aiming for increased sales volumes to generate more profit after a previous strategy was thwarted by tariffs. And, as the publication notes, it seems the German automaker may achieve its annual sales target sooner, as the updated CLA has become a huge hit in Europe.
In just the first two months of 2026, this small luxury sedan sold 13,138 units on the continent, firmly taking second place right behind the Audi A3. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that the A3's overall data includes both hatchbacks and sedans. The CLA sales segment features a four-door version and a rather niche Shooting Brake wagon.
According to Automotive News Europe, Mercedes-Benz sold so many CLAs in such a short period that it significantly increased premium compact car sales by 13% compared to the same period in 2025. For comparison, this model accounted for 22% of premium compact car sales in Europe. From January to February 2026, 59,709 cars in this segment were sold, allowing it to overtake large premium SUVs and mid-range cars on the continent.
The CLA also brings Mercedes-Benz good money. The annual sales growth of this compact luxury car was a whopping 127%, which is a huge leap compared to the previous version, the publication writes. The European market also embraced the electric version of the CLA, with the extended-range version accounting for more than half of the model's sales during the specified period. The appearance of a hybrid model late last year also contributed to its increased attractiveness.
Although the CLA lags behind the A3, it has done more than enough to put Mercedes-Benz in first place in the premium compact car sales ranking. Between January and February 2026, 9,202 new A-Class cars were registered, up 20% from a year earlier, and B-Class sales increased by another 1,417 units (-39% compared to last year).
In total, this amounts to 23,737 units, putting Mercedes-Benz ahead of BMW. For comparison, the total sales volume of the Bavarian manufacturer's premium compact cars – including the 1 Series, 2 Series (Coupe and Gran Coupe), and 2 Series Active Tourer – is 16,892 units. The Audi A3 showed the best results in the premium compact car class, selling a total of 16,768 cars.
Thus, Mercedes-Benz holds a significant market share in Europe with 39.75%. For comparison, BMW has 28.29%, and Audi has 28.08%.
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