New Mercedes-Benz cars launching in South Africa this year

After launching nine new models in the local market in 2022, Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) isn’t finished, and 2023 is shaping up to be an even more noteworthy year for the premium manufacturer.

Over the next 12 months, the three-pointed star will revamp its entry-level models, introduce a host of new SUVs, further expand its electric EQ range, and accelerate its high-performance AMG brand.

Mercedes-Benz in 2022

Last year, Mercedes-Benz saw its sales grow by an impressive 37%, with December being its strongest-selling month since the onset of Covid-19. The brand also serviced a record 220,000 customer cars over the same period.

While the automaker doesn’t report its monthly sales per region, Naamsa estimates that it sold roughly 10,600 units in South Africa between January and December.

As far as new models went, the first launch of many for the year was that of the GLB. In fact, the GLB was already on sale in 2020, however, due to the Covid-19 lockdowns Mercedes saw it fit to relaunch the SUV last year and since then, customer adoption has increased rapidly, said the company.

Additionally, the all-new generation of the evergreen C-Class Sedan came out in 2022, as did the sporty AMG C43 which slots in right below the new C63, the latter of which we’ll be getting in 2023.

Upping the exclusivity factor, the opulent S-Class range was bolstered with the addition of the diesel-powered S350d, and to take it another step further, Mercedes debuted the Maybach S-Class which is the brand’s pinnacle “luxury limousine” and is powered by either a V8 or V12 plant.

In the final stretch of 2022, the electric EQ cars were brought to market with two crossovers, one SUV, and one sedan going on sale simultaneously.

Following the event, over 500 battery-electric Mercedes autos were delivered to customers within our borders, with the quota only hampered by semi-conductor and input shortages. MBSA predicts that in 2023 we’ll see an even stronger pickup of EVs in the country.

What to look out for in 2023

While Mercedes did not provide the specific timeframes for its new models coming in 2023, it did confirm that there are at least 11 on their way.

At the affordable end of the spectrum, the manufacturer is introducing new generations of its entry-level models including the A-Class, CLA, and GLA.

Moving up in the price ranks, there is also a new GLC waiting to be unleashed, as well as the next-generation GLE which is yet to be unmasked to the world.

In terms of new-energy introductions, Mercedes’ battery-powered EQ line-up is receiving three new derivatives.

The first of these, the EQE Sedan, already went on sale in January and will soon be joined by the EQE SUV, and in the third quarter of the year, the EQS SUV will also see the South African sun.

Perhaps the most exciting events for the year, depending on who you ask, is the launch of new models from the AMG wing.

The high-performance department is going to spoil its local fans with the new C63 S E Performance, the new GT63 S E Performance, as well as the new SL Roadster.

The angry C-Class was the last one to be unveiled between these sporty siblings and we know that it’s scheduled to reach local soil in the fourth quarter of 2023, so we expect both the hybridised GT as well as the V8 SL to go on sale before this.