Expanding Electric Vehicle Products, Mercedes Benz Increases Investment In China

The production process for Mercedes Benz cars in China. (Doc. X/@mercedes-benz)

JAKARTA - Mercedes Benz announced it is increasing investment in China to expand its lineup of products in the local market, despite increased restrictions on EV vehicles in China for Western countries.

Citing from the CNevpost page, Thursday, September 5, the German manufacturer plans to invest more than 14 billion yuan in China, with local partners to further diversify its local product lineup in the form of passenger cars to light commercial vehicles.

Based on existing reports, starting in 2025 and beyond Mercedes Benz has made plans for a gradual production of the new long wheelbase CLA all electric model specifically for the Chinese market, to the luxury electricity MPV based on the VAN.EA platform.

"SUV GLE with a new long-wheeled axis distance will be led by a team from China for the first time and will offer the convenience and intelligent technology of this Bamboo Curtain country," the company said in a statement.

In addition, the newly announced investment will collaborate with Fujian Benz, a light commercial vehicle manufacturing company based in Fuzhou, a joint venture by Fujian Motor Industry Group, Daimler Vans Hong Kong Limited, and BAIC Motor Corp. That way, it can accelerate the pace of the commercial vehicle electrification business in China.

"China market is one of the main pillars of the global strategy of Mercedes-Benz and an important driver of electrification transformation and innovation," said Mercedes-Benz Group Chairman Ola Kleverlenius.

As is known, Mercedes Benz has been committed to investing in China for a long time, by participating more deeply and contributing to the increase in China's automotive industry, increasing the company's competitiveness globally.