Kretschmann and Källenius rule out takeover

Stuttgart China has been expanding its influence in Europe through investments and infrastructure projects for more than two decades. There have also been spectacular company takeovers, such as that of the robot manufacturer Kuka six years ago. But tensions between the economic blocs are increasing and buyers from the Far East are encountering increasing resistance.

German politics is now drawing a red line more clearly than ever before: the car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz should definitely remain German. A scenario in which the two Chinese Mercedes major shareholders Baic and the investment company Tenaciou3 from Geely founder Eric Li would obtain a blocking minority in the Dax group is ruled out by Baden-Württemberg’s Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann.

“We would not allow that at all,” said the Green politician to the Handelsblatt in a double interview with Mercedes boss Ola Källenius. “We will certainly not make a mistake similar to that made by the robot manufacturer Kuka.”