German luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz is set to prioritize China, the world’s leading auto market, as the central hub for its upcoming electric vehicle (EV) campaign starting in 2025, according to the company’s CEO, Ola Kaellenius, in an interview with German magazine Automobilwoche.
In response to evolving customer demands and the rapidly growing EV market, Mercedes-Benz has committed to producing exclusively electric vehicles across all its new vehicle platforms from 2025, as part of the strategy the company outlined in 2021.
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To cater to the unique preferences and requirements of Chinese customers, Mercedes-Benz is meticulously reviewing its planned models based on the forthcoming MB.EA platform. The goal is to ensure that the upcoming EVs will offer enhanced space and an enriched digital content experience for the local market.
While China continues to be a crucial market for German automakers, local brands have dominated the Chinese EV market, accounting for an 81% share in 2022, as reported by Counterpoint Research.
Notably, China has a significant stake in Mercedes-Benz, with Beijing Automotive Group Co Ltd and Geely Chairman Li Shufu being the automaker’s top two shareholders.
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Concurrently, German authorities are aiming to diversify the country’s economic ties, seeking to reduce reliance on China’s economy following geopolitical events that highlighted vulnerabilities in German dependence on a single dominant gas supplier after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Mercedes-Benz’s ambitious shift towards China as its primary EV market underscores the company’s commitment to meeting evolving consumer preferences and embracing a future increasingly centered on electric propulsion and digital innovation.
