Mercedes-Benz Group

What does Mercedes-Benz Group own?
Mercedes-Benz Group AG owns the Mercedes-Benz passenger car brand, including the Mercedes-AMG performance sub-brand, Mercedes-Maybach ultra-luxury vehicles, and the Mercedes-EQ electric vehicle lineup. The company also owns Mercedes-Benz Vans, which produces the Sprinter, Vito, and V-Class commercial vans. Smart is operated as a joint venture with Geely in China.

Is Mercedes-Benz Group publicly traded?
Yes. Mercedes-Benz Group AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under ticker symbol MBG. The company was created in February 2022 when Daimler AG split into Mercedes-Benz Group AG and Daimler Truck AG. Significant shareholders include BAIC Group (approximately 9.98%), Geely Holding (approximately 9.7%), and Kuwait Investment Authority (approximately 6.8%).

What is Mercedes-Benz Group's annual revenue?
Mercedes-Benz Group reported revenue of EUR 132.2 billion for full year 2025, down from EUR 145.6 billion in 2024. Adjusted EBIT was EUR 8.2 billion, and net profit was EUR 6.2 billion. The company sold 2.34 million passenger cars and 369,000 vans globally.

Who is the CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group?
Ola Kallenius serves as Chairman of the Board of Management (CEO) of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, a position he has held since 2019. He led the company through its 2022 separation from Daimler Truck and has directed the premiumization and electrification strategy.

Who founded Mercedes-Benz?
The Mercedes-Benz brand traces its origins to Karl Benz, who received the patent for the world's first gasoline-powered automobile in 1886, and Gottlieb Daimler, who independently developed a gasoline engine and vehicle in the same period. Daimler-Benz AG was formed in 1926 through the merger of their respective companies. The Mercedes name was first used in 1901, named after the daughter of automobile enthusiast Emil Jellinek.

Where is Mercedes-Benz Group headquartered?
Mercedes-Benz Group AG is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. The company's primary manufacturing facilities are in the Stuttgart metropolitan area, including plants in Unterturkheim, Sindelfingen, Bremen, and Rastatt. Mercedes-Benz also operates manufacturing facilities in the United States (Tuscaloosa, Alabama), China, Hungary, India, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, and Spain.

How many vehicles did Mercedes-Benz sell in 2025?
Mercedes-Benz Group sold 2.34 million passenger cars and 369,000 vans globally in 2025. The Top-End Luxury segment, including S-Class, G-Class, Maybach, and AMG models, accounted for a growing share of revenue, though overall volume declined from 2024 levels.

The history of Mercedes-Benz traces to the very origins of the automobile. Karl Benz received a patent for his Benz Patent-Motorwagen in January 1886, widely regarded as the world's first true automobile powered by a gasoline engine. Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach independently developed their own gasoline engine and vehicle in 1885 and 1886.

Benz and Cie., Karl Benz's company, and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, founded by Gottlieb Daimler, operated as separate companies for decades. The Mercedes name was first used in 1901, when Emil Jellinek, an Austro-Hungarian diplomat and automobile enthusiast, commissioned a new racing car from Daimler and named it after his daughter Mercedes. The Mercedes brand became synonymous with performance and quality.

Daimler-Benz AG was formed in 1926 through the merger of Benz and Cie. and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft. The merged company produced vehicles under the Mercedes-Benz brand, combining the three-pointed star of Daimler with the laurel wreath of Benz.

During World War II, Daimler-Benz produced aircraft engines and military vehicles using forced labor, a period that remains a significant part of the company's historical record. The company rebuilt its manufacturing operations after the war and resumed civilian vehicle production.

Mercedes-Benz established its reputation for engineering excellence in the postwar decades through innovations in safety technology, including the crumple zone (1959), anti-lock braking system (ABS, 1978), and airbags (1981). The company's S-Class sedan became the benchmark for luxury automotive technology.

In 1998, Daimler-Benz merged with Chrysler Corporation to form DaimlerChrysler, one of the largest automotive mergers in history. The merger was intended to create a global automotive powerhouse but was widely regarded as unsuccessful. Cultural and strategic differences between the German and American operations proved difficult to reconcile, and Chrysler was sold to Cerberus Capital Management in 2007 for approximately $7.4 billion, a fraction of its acquisition price.

Following the Chrysler divestiture, Daimler AG refocused on its core Mercedes-Benz and commercial vehicle businesses. The company acquired a significant stake in Aston Martin in 2013 and expanded its partnership with Renault-Nissan. In 2020, Daimler AG announced the plan to split into two independent companies, which was completed in February 2022.

For full year 2025, Mercedes-Benz Group reported revenue of EUR 132.2 billion and adjusted EBIT of EUR 8.2 billion, both declining from 2024 levels, reflecting challenging market conditions particularly in China and the cost of the electrification transition. The company proposed a dividend of EUR 2.00 per share for 2025, below the EUR 5.10 per share paid for 2024.

Mercedes-Benz has committed to science-based emissions reduction targets and has published sustainability disclosures through its annual sustainability report. The company is not a certified B Corporation. The following information is drawn from company-reported claims and should be evaluated accordingly.

The company has set a target of achieving a fleet-wide carbon-neutral new car fleet by 2039. Mercedes-Benz has invested in battery recycling, green steel sourcing, and renewable energy at its manufacturing facilities. The company's Ambition 2039 strategy covers the full lifecycle of vehicles, from supply chain to end-of-life recycling.

Mercedes-Benz has committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for its near-term and net-zero targets. The company reports Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions in its annual sustainability report. Manufacturing facilities in Europe have transitioned to green electricity contracts where available.

On social responsibility, Mercedes-Benz has documented and acknowledged its use of forced labor during World War II. The company has established a foundation that supports historical research and education about this period. The company also runs apprenticeship and training programs across its global manufacturing network.

Governance practices include a two-tier board structure with a Supervisory Board that includes employee representatives, as required under German co-determination law. The Supervisory Board oversees the Management Board and approves major strategic decisions.

• J.D. Power Awards: Multiple Mercedes-Benz models have received J.D. Power quality and dependability awards
• World Car Awards: Mercedes-Benz vehicles have won multiple World Car of the Year awards, including for the EQS
• Top Safety Picks: Several Mercedes-Benz models have received IIHS Top Safety Pick ratings
• German Design Awards: Mercedes-Benz design has been recognized across multiple model lines

Mercedes-Benz, as part of the broader Daimler group, was implicated in the Dieselgate emissions scandal that primarily affected Volkswagen Group. German authorities investigated Daimler for alleged defeat device use in its diesel vehicles, and the company paid approximately EUR 870 million to settle German regulatory proceedings in 2019. The company also faced class action lawsuits and regulatory scrutiny in the United States related to diesel emissions.

The company's use of forced labor during World War II has been documented and acknowledged. Mercedes-Benz has established a foundation that supports historical research and education about this period.

Mercedes-Benz has faced scrutiny regarding the pace of its electric vehicle transition and its continued investment in internal combustion engine development. Environmental groups have argued the company's electrification commitments are insufficient, particularly after the 2025 announcement that ICE vehicles would remain in the portfolio longer than previously planned.

In China, the company faces regulatory and competitive pressure from domestic EV manufacturers that have benefited from government subsidies and policy support. The competitive landscape has shifted rapidly, with Chinese consumers increasingly favoring domestic brands over foreign luxury marques.

The company's significant shareholders, BAIC Group and Geely Holding, both Chinese entities, create potential governance complexity. While neither holds a controlling stake, their combined ownership of approximately 20% gives them substantial influence on strategic decisions, particularly those affecting the Chinese market.