Mercedes-Benz to invest big in China branch

The Stuttgart automaker has announced massive investments into its business in China following disappointing sales statistics.

China was the single biggest market for Mercedes-Benz in 2023 with 737,200 vehicles sold that year. In 2024, however, the sales went down 9%. To reclaim its lost market share, the company is now planning on investing €1.8 billion into a joint enterprise in the country.

Among other things, Mercedes wants to localize the production of the long-wheelbase GLE-Class in China. The crossover is already available in that country, but importing from the United States makes it expensive. The all-electric EQV van may also prove a solid performer on the local market, and it also has to be made in China to be competitive, the company argues.