Mercedes-Benz Group gross sales rose reasonably within the first quarter of this 12 months, boosted by electrical autos and its most costly vehicles.

World automobile gross sales elevated 3 % to 503,500 autos, with Europe posting the strongest development at 8 %, Mercedes mentioned in an announcement on Wednesday.

Gross sales of full-electric vehicles had been the primary development driver, with gross sales nearly doubling to 51,600 models. Battery-electric-vehicle gross sales accounted for 10 % of the model’s total quantity, up from 6 % within the year-earlier interval.

The EQB full-electric crossover had the strongest development amongst Mercedes’ EVs, with quantity up 189 %. Gross sales of the EQA gross sales rose by 64 %, whereas EQS SUV gross sales reached 5,500 models.

The highest-end section, which incorporates AMG, Maybach and G-Class fashions, additionally demonstrated strong development of 18 %, reaching 91,800 for the interval.

Mercedes gross sales and advertising and marketing boss Britta Seeger mentioned the EV and top-end segments posted robust outcomes “regardless of ongoing provide chain disruptions, financial headwinds and geopolitical uncertainties.”

Gross sales in China elevated 3 % throughout the quarter whereas quantity in North America rose by 1 %.

Gross sales within the Mercedes-Benz Vans division grew 12 %, reaching 98,900 — its finest first-quarter outcome so far.

Automotive Information Europe contributed to this report