Mercedes Designer Admits Wagon Sales Slump, Electric C-Class Estate May Not Reach Production

Mercedes-Benz is still selling the internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered C-Class Estate (codenamed S206) and plans a mid-cycle refresh, with sales expected to continue for several more years. Meanwhile, the new CLA Shooting Brake is offered with both ICE and all-electric powertrains, and there are currently no plans to discontinue the E-Class Estate. However, Robert Lešnik, Head of Exterior Design at Mercedes-Benz, told media that although designers and journalists favor estate models, market reality shows “almost no one is buying them anymore,” leading the brand to adopt a cautious stance toward launching an estate version of the electric C-Class sedan unveiled this week. If Mercedes ultimately decides against producing an electric C-Class Estate, it would mark the first time since the mid-1990s S202-generation C-Class that the model line skips the estate body style entirely. In contrast, BMW has recently teased an i3 Touring variant, which could potentially compete with a hypothetical electric C-Class Estate; while BMW’s 3 Series Touring may continue to be offered with ICE options in the future, the company has not yet made a definitive commitment. The estate segment continues to lose ground to the SUV boom. Although demand persists in markets like Europe, overall sales volumes are no longer sufficient to justify full electrification across multiple estate models. For now, Mercedes-Benz is prioritizing high-volume SUVs such as the GLC, while the C-Class All-Terrain—a crossover-style estate—is seen as a versatile alternative that balances practicality and functionality.