Daimler is confident that it can continue to grow sales in China next year and believes it can also increase its EV sales. Mercedes-Benz’s sales in China jumped 12 per cent throughout 2020 to a record 774,000 despite the pandemic. It has also registered sales growth of 8 per cent this year and while speaking with members of the media, Daimler China boss Hubertus Troska said 2022 should be just as fruitful: “Everything speaks for the fact that China will be a super market next year as well,” Troska told Auto News.
Troska acknowledges that Mercedes-Benz’s sales of electric vehicles remain small in China, although this is partly because most Chinese automakers are selling EVs much cheaper than the German brand. However, with plans for Daimler to increase the number of EV models it sells locally from one to five next year, it will be able to better position itself in the premium EV segment.
A key part of Daimler’s plans for the Chinese market are for it to introduce a new EV in 2024. It is understood that this model will be built exclusively in China and if it proves popular, it could be exported overseas.
Daimler doesn’t plan on ditching internal combustion engines, however. According to Troska, combustion-powered vehicles will remain popular in large areas of the country beyond urban centers where there is less charging infrastructure.
“It’s a huge country, so in my view there will still be internal combustion engine cars in China for some time,” he said.
Source: carscoops