In 2024, Mercedes-Benz celebrated a significant achievement by supplying over 710,000 vehicles to consumers in China. Looking toward mid-2026, Beijing Benz is poised to unveil the long-wheelbase GLE SUV, followed by the launch of a premium all-electric MPV from Fujian Benz.
Moreover, by 2027, Mercedes-Benz has daring aspirations to introduce seven distinctive models designed explicitly for the Chinese market.
At present, Mercedes-Benz is enhancing its research and development resources in China, establishing a dual-engine R&D infrastructure in Beijing and Shanghai, supported by a team of over 2,000 specialists. This advancement has positioned the Chinese R&D network as the largest and most formidable outside Germany. In 2024, with the upgrade of the Shanghai R&D center, the Chinese team is set to spearhead numerous international projects.
In 2024, the Mercedes-Benz Group’s global R&D investment is anticipated to reach 9.7 billion euros. The Chinese R&D sector is concentrating on pioneering areas such as intelligent connectivity, autonomous driving, software and hardware development, and big data, fostering significant digital innovations.
Notably, the independently developed MB.OS framework by Mercedes-Benz has greatly benefited from contributions made by the Shanghai R&D center, which is at the forefront of creating smart cockpit and intelligent driving functionalities.
The forthcoming pure electric long-wheelbase CLA will feature an AI-driven MBUX virtual assistant and an advanced intelligent driving system, primarily developed by the Chinese R&D team.
Looking ahead, Mercedes-Benz is determined to strengthen collaborations with prominent Chinese technology companies such as Tencent, Volcengine, Amap, and iFlytek, while also forming industry-academia-research partnerships with esteemed institutions like Tsinghua University to promote sustainable transportation research.
Harnessing China’s dynamic innovation landscape, Mercedes-Benz aims to expand its cooperation network in vital fields such as electrification, digitalization, and sustainable mobility, introducing a diverse array of products tailored to fulfill the evolving needs of Chinese consumers.