Mercedes-Benz posts improved sales in Q2

German luxury carmarker Mercedes-Benz has posted improved sales in the second quarter: Compared to the same period last year, sales increased by 6% to 515,700 vehicles, the carmaker announced in Stuttgart on Tuesday, reported dpa.

Business picked up strongly, especially on the domestic market. Mercedes-Benz said it sold 58,600 cars in Germany in the second quarter, a 23% increase.

A total of 157,100 vehicles landed on the European market.

Asia remained the carmaker's most important market, with sales of 239,200 cars, most of which - 183,600 cars - were sold in China.

With an increase of 3%, business in the North American market - to which Mercedes counts the United States, Canada and Mexico - increased only slightly. Mercedes sold 98,800 cars there.

Mercedes saw a particularly strong boost with its all-electric vehicles. Sales of pure electric cars rose by 123% to 56,300 units.

Six months into this year, sales stood at nearly 1.02 million vehicles, an increase of 5% compared to the same period last year.

The proportion of fully electric vehicles was 102,600 units, Mercedes-Benz said, meaning e-cars made up a little more than a 10th of total sales.

By 2030, Mercedes wants to be able to sell only fully electric cars wherever market conditions allow.