“Will see exponential growth in electric cars”

Vienna The Stuttgart car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz wants to invest even more money in the development and production of electric cars. “We are increasing the stakes,” says CEO Ola Källenius in an interview with the Handelsblatt.

The Swedish-German manager is reacting to the sluggish sales of battery-electric models with the star. In the world’s largest market, China, the Stuttgart-based company was only able to sell 6,900 Stromers from January to May, and orders are falling in Germany.

Nine out of ten new Mercedes cars worldwide still have combustion engines. By 2030, the Swabians want to sell only pure electric cars if possible. But the business with the electric cars is tougher than expected. Källenius already had to concede an interim goal of his “Electric only” strategy. Accordingly, pure electric cars and plug-in hybrids should not account for half of vehicle sales in 2025, but only in 2026. Källenius is still sticking to the plan.