Mercedes-Benz Shifts Focus Back to Combustion Engines as Profits Fall
The automaker plans to launch more internal combustion models than electric vehicles by 2027 while implementing cost-cutting measures to address declining earnings and sales.
- Mercedes-Benz will release 19 new combustion engine models and 17 electric vehicles by the end of 2027 as part of its largest-ever product launch program.
- The company saw a 28% drop in net profits in 2024, with electric vehicle sales declining by 23% and revenue falling by 4%.
- Mercedes plans to cut production costs by 10% by 2027, with measures including localizing production in China and the U.S. to mitigate trade risks.
- Executives highlighted a strategy to prioritize high-margin luxury vehicles and advanced technologies like steer-by-wire and AI-driven systems.
- Sales in China, Mercedes' largest market, fell by 7% in 2024, reflecting challenges from local competitors and weakening demand in the region.
The Times 
The Telegraph 
