A symbol of automotive luxury, the S-Class is facing tough times due to declining sales. During the first quarter, sales dropped by almost 37% to just 16,900 units, which includes the AMG and Maybach versions. The German luxury brand has not disclosed S-Class sales figures for the second quarter. However, overall sales for the S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, and GLS fell by nearly 23% to 33,400 units. Given these circumstances, it's unsurprising that Mercedes has confirmed rumors of reducing S-Class production. In an interview with Automobilwoche, a company spokesperson revealed that the S-Class will now be produced in a single shift at Factory 56 in Sindelfingen. The publication notes that the assembly plant has been underutilized for months due to a significant drop in sales.

Automobilwoche quotes an interior components supplier describing the reduction in S-Class production as a "catastrophe." The shift to single-shift operations at Sindelfingen will take effect after the August vacation. The Mercedes representative mentioned that some workers will be assigned to other production tasks at the plant, where the fully electric EQS is also built. Comparing with its main competitors, BMW saw an increase while Audi experienced a decrease in sales of their flagship models in the first half of 2024. BMW's 7 Series and 8 Series saw a demand increase of 11.4% to 30,249 units by June. In contrast, Audi's D-segment cars saw a 16.5% decline to 8,487 units, with production falling by 46% to just 5,788 units from January to June.

Mercedes is currently working on a mid-cycle update for the S-Class. At the end of June, CEO Ola Källenius stated that the company is investing "a lot more" than usual in a facelifted model. The company has adjusted its ambitious EV goals, opting to invest more in combustion engines. Among the three German large sedans, the S-Class remains the only one offering a twelve-cylinder engine, but this is exclusively available in the luxurious Maybach variant. It's also worth noting that until a few years ago, there were also S-Class Coupe and S-Class Convertible models, which have since been discontinued and replaced by the new 2+2 GT Coupe and SL duo.