Mercedes-Benz has held preliminary discussions with Chinese automaker Geely about potential cooperation on future vehicle development in China, according to a Bloomberg report citing sources familiar with the matter.
The talks are described as being at an early stage and focus on possible collaboration for models beyond Mercedes’ current generation of electric vehicles. The outcome remains uncertain, and the discussions could end without a formal agreement.
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The reported engagement comes despite Mercedes-Benz recently denying speculation that it plans to adopt a new electric vehicle platform based on Geely technology. Earlier reports from industry outlet 36kr suggested that a new architecture, reportedly codenamed “Phoenix,” could underpin future compact EVs. Mercedes dismissed those claims as “fabricated and untrue.”
A spokesperson for Mercedes-Benz told Bloomberg the company is “continually reviewing ways to make research and development faster, better and more efficient — both in China and globally,” while reiterating that there are no plans to share platforms with Geely.
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Geely, which is already a shareholder in Mercedes-Benz, maintains an existing partnership with the German automaker through the Smart brand. Under that joint venture, Geely is responsible for technology development and production, though no Geely-derived technology is currently used in Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
According to Bloomberg, a deeper collaboration could help Mercedes reduce development costs and shorten time-to-market in China, where domestic manufacturers are known for faster innovation cycles and competitive pricing.
A spokesperson for Geely declined to comment on the reported discussions.
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Industry observers note that global automakers are increasingly exploring partnerships with Chinese companies to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle market. Similar considerations have recently been reported for other manufacturers, including Stellantis, which is said to be evaluating potential collaborations with Chinese firms such as Xpeng and Xiaomi.
While Mercedes-Benz and Geely maintain regular exchanges at the management level, it remains unclear whether these interactions will lead to expanded cooperation beyond their existing Smart joint venture.