Easy car newsIn the face of challenges such as a complex and volatile market environment, an escalating competitive landscape and a shortage of spare parts in the fourth quarter, Mercedes-Benz and its dealer partners delivered approximately 76.5 percent of the total to Chinese customers in 202350,000 new vehicles, basically the same as the delivery level in 2022, and achieved high-quality and resilient development in multiple strategic business segments.
Among them, the high-end luxury product matrix continued to achieve rapid growth, and the Mercedes-Mai** brand and G-class off-road vehicles achieved annual growth of % respectively. The delivery of new energy vehicles has been booming, the annual delivery of pure electric models has more than doubled, and plug-in hybrid models have once again led the luxury car market with a leading edge. In terms of core luxury product matrix, deliveries of long-wheelbase C-segment vehicles achieved near-double-digit annual growth; The long-wheelbase GLC SUV and long-wheelbase E-Class have undergone high-quality product upgrades, and the new products have continued to gain favor with customers since their launch.
In 2023, relying on the full cooperation of our dealer partners and the joint efforts of all colleagues, we have overcome many challenges from the macro environment, market structure and temporary shortage of spare parts, continued to gain customer recognition, and once again consolidated Mercedes-Benz's leading position in the high-end luxury car market and its upward potential in the new energy sector with high-quality development.
Mr. Duan Jianjun, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Sales & Service*** Beijing, said, "In 2024, with the launch of a number of products, including the all-new pure electric G-class off-road vehicle, the all-new Ma**EQS pure electric SUV, the all-new CLE family, and the new generation EQA and EQB SUVs, we will fully meet the diverse needs of Chinese customers in sustainable luxury travel with high-quality products and customer experience, and continue to participate in the transformation and upgrading of China's leading enterprises." ”
Collaborative and co-prosperous dealer partnerships are the foundation for us to respond flexibly and actively to market changes, create excellent services, and achieve high-quality and steady development. "In 2024, we will further consolidate and optimize our long-standing network advantages, work with all dealer partners to continuously upgrade the retail space, expand the rich touchpoint experience, increase investment in talent development, consolidate the moat of brand development with 'high-quality operation', and promote the sustainable development of 'green retail' for the future." With the 'green retail' covering the entire network of new and renovated dealers, we expect to achieve a 50% reduction in carbon emissions from our dealer network by 2026 compared to 2021." ”
In the challenging year of 2023, with the upgrading of high-quality products of the two core models of long-wheelbase GLC SUV and long-wheelbase E-class, as well as the blockbuster launch of strategic electric models such as EQE pure electric SUV and EQS pure electric SUV, we continue to win the favor of customers with our product strategy of 'gasoline and electric dual-line'. "In 2024, we will bring more than 15 new and new generation products covering multiple drive modes and multiple product matrices, and continue to meet the current Chinese customers' yearning for the Mercedes-Benz brand with a strong product offensive and an irreproducible customer experience." ”
More than 15 new cars meet the needs of multiple car scenarios
Under the vision of accelerating "all-electric" and building sustainable luxury mobility, Mercedes-Benz will continue its product strategy of "gasoline and electricity" in 2024, bringing more than 15 new and new-generation products covering different drive modes and different market segments to the Chinese market, fully meeting the diversified car needs of Chinese customers.
In the high-end luxury product matrix, the first pure electric product of the legendary G-class off-road vehicle, the all-new pure electric G-class off-road vehicle, the first mass-produced pure electric model of the Mercedes-Mai** brand, the all-new Mai** EQS pure electric SUV and the all-new AMG pure electric EQE 53 SUV will be unveiled within the year, further promoting the electrification process of the high-end luxury product matrix. In addition, the 45th anniversary of the G-Class off-road vehicle will also usher in the classic transformation of the new G 500, the new G 63 and other models.
In the core luxury product matrix, the all-new long-wheelbase GLC SUV plug-in hybrid model and the all-new long-wheelbase E-class plug-in hybrid model will be launched within the year. In addition, the new members of the Mercedes-Benz Dream Car – the all-new CLE Coupe and Cabriolet – will be launched in the latter part of the year, once again defining the design trend.
In terms of the new generation of luxury products, the new generation EQA pure electric SUV and EQB pure electric SUV will also land in the Chinese market, bringing the latest design elements, luxury driving and intelligent experience of the pure electric family.
Network upgrades, diversified ecosystems to build a benchmark experience
While the product matrix is becoming more and more abundant, Mercedes-Benz will continue to focus on "high-quality operation", promote the upgrading and transformation of the current advantageous retail network, the diversified expansion of customer touch points, and the implementation of the green retail network. Based on the "2020 Network Upgrade Plan", the retail network upgrade and transformation project will be fully accelerated in 2024 and will be launched by the end of 2025. With the "green retail" project covering new and renovated dealers across the network in 2023, it is expected that the carbon emissions of the dealer network will be halved in 2026 compared to 2021.
To create a convenient and hassle-free e-mobility experience, Mercedes-Benz Superchargers have been put into operation in Chengdu, Foshan, Qingdao, Chongqing, Kunming, Wuhan, Suzhou, Changzhou and other places. Up to now, Mercedes-Benz public charging services have covered nearly 590,000 public charging piles in more than 340 cities across the country.
In addition, the "super app" that aggregates all customer online touchpoints will be launched in 2024, bringing a seamless digital brand experience to 6 million Chinese customers.
Led by science and technology, R&D layout consolidates the competitiveness of digital intelligence
Under the technological trend of electrification, intelligence and digitalization, Mercedes-Benz actively embraces industry changes, continuously strengthens its local R&D capabilities, creates a digital luxury experience that "understands Chinese customers better", and plays a leading role in the global R&D network. At present, the local R&D network covers Beijing and Shanghai, with a R&D team of 2,000 people. The new Mercedes-Benz Shanghai R&D Center will open this year, leveraging the advantages of technology industry clusters in the Yangtze River Delta region to further accelerate research and development in digital fields such as intelligent interconnection and autonomous driving.
As the world's only car company with L3 conditional autonomous driving and L4 automatic driverless parking, Mercedes-Benz will be approved as the first batch of conditional autonomous driving (L3) road test licenses in Beijing in 2023, and will officially launch the conditional autonomous driving system test on designated highways in Beijing, further accelerating the implementation of related intelligent driving products in the Chinese market. At the same time, the L2+ navigation assistance system, which was developed by the Chinese R&D team, received positive reviews after the launch of the new long-wheelbase E-class.
We will continue to participate in the sustainable development of China's social economy
Adhering to the sustainable development concept of "business responsibility", Mercedes-Benz is working with partners to promote carbon reduction measures throughout the value chain, and working with public welfare partners in various fields to actively assume the long-term responsibility of social citizens.
Over the years, Mercedes-Benz has followed a sustainable business strategy and is committed to creating value for all stakeholders and achieving a win-win situation for the environment, society and business. Following the Mercedes-Benz ESG Conference 2023 held in March last year to share the progress of sustainable business, the Mercedes-Benz Group China Sustainability Blue Book 2022-2023 was released in October, announcing the latest achievements in the fields of production, products, chains, retail, and corporate social responsibility in the Chinese market.
As one of the first batch of enterprises in Beijing to purchase green electricity, Beijing Benz has purchased green electricity for three consecutive years, and signed a contract to purchase at least 200 million kWh of renewable electricity in 2023. In November last year, Mercedes-Benz (China) Investment Co., Ltd. signed a memorandum of cooperation with Yunnan Aluminum Co., Ltd. to explore the application of low-carbon aluminum in automobile production, and Beijing Benz also plans to integrate low-carbon aluminum into product production. In addition, Mercedes-Benz is also working with CATL, Brunp and GEM to cooperate in the field of power battery closed-loop.
As of 2024, Mercedes-Benz has entered its 17th year of philanthropy in China, with a cumulative investment of more than 3600 million. With the launch of the Quanzhou "Ancient House New Voice" World Heritage Conservation and Management Project, Mercedes-Benz has carried out in-depth public welfare cooperation with 14 World Heritage sites in China, and has built a multi-dimensional biodiversity conservation paradigm with four national parks, including the Giant Panda National Park, Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, Wuyi Mountain National Park and Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park. In 2024, Mercedes-Benz will focus on ecological protection and cultural inheritance, deepen its philanthropic strategic cooperation with long-term philanthropic partners such as the Dunhuang Academy, the Palace Museum, and UNESCO, and join hands with more dealer partners, customers, employees and the public to participate in it, so as to jointly practice philanthropy and contribute to the sustainable development of Chinese society.