No one thought there was anything left to regulate — but regulators found it: the sound itself. Starting July 2026, the updated UN-R51.03 noise regulation (fully adopted by the European Union and influencing global homologation) will effectively end production of five current Mercedes-AMG models. And Mercedes has decided it’s not worth fighting for them.
When Exhaust Note Became the Enemy
The car world has lived with safety rules, emissions rules, and fuel-economy rules for decades. Now it’s the soundtrack that’s under attack. That signature AMG bark and crackle? Too loud for Brussels and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
The models getting the axe are:
- Mercedes-AMG C 43
- Mercedes-AMG GLC 43
- Mercedes-AMG GLA 35
- Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance (plug-in hybrid)
- Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance (plug-in hybrid)
Production of the first three ends in February 2026; the hybrid 63s follow in May 2026. After that — nothing. No more new examples, period.
Why Mercedes Is Walking Away
Engineering a compliant exhaust that still sounds halfway decent is possible, but it’s expensive, time-consuming, and the sales volume simply doesn’t justify the investment. Add in the risk of hurting the brand’s fleet-average CO₂ numbers (yes, selling too many high-performance cars can actually hurt you under current rules), and the business case collapses.
So instead of pouring millions into a last-ditch noise-fix, Mercedes is letting these models fade out quietly.
What Happens Next
Dealers have already been told to stop taking new orders. Remaining inventory will be sold through 2026, but once it’s gone, that iconic AMG symphony becomes history — at least in showroom-new cars.
A Quick Reality Check
We get it: cities are noisy, people want peace, and regulations exist for a reason. But there’s something undeniably sad about watching the soul of performance driving get legislated into silence. An AMG has never just been about horsepower numbers — it’s about theater, drama, that hair-raising soundtrack on a cold start or a freeway on-ramp.
If you’ve been putting off a C 63 S E Performance or even a “baby” C 43, now’s the moment. Approximate market price for remaining new 2025-2026 examples in the United States:
- C 43 – $78,000–$88,000
- GLC 43 – $82,000–$92,000
- GLA 35 – $62,000–$70,000
- C 63 S E Performance – $115,000–$135,000
- GLC 63 S E Performance – $120,000–$140,000
Those prices will only climb once the production taps are turned off. In a few years, the only place you’ll hear that glorious exhaust note will be YouTube videos and the occasional car meet.
So here we are: an era of fire-breathing AMGs isn’t ending with a bang — it’s ending with a regulatory whisper. And for anyone who measures driving passion in decibels, that really hurts.
