BMW and Mercedes Benz join hands to establish a high-power charging network in China
Mercedes-Benz and BMW announced today that they have achieved an agreement to form a 50:50 joint venture in China to run a high-power charging network and deliver premium charging services to Chinese consumers.
By the end of 2026, the joint venture hopes to have built a network of at least 1,000 high-power charging stations and 7,000 high-power charging piles using cutting-edge charging technology. The stations are anticipated to launch in top NEV regions in 2024, with further stations to be placed across China.
Mercedes-Benz and BMW will use their worldwide and Chinese charging operations knowledge, as well as their in-depth understanding of the Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) industry, to create quick, easy, reliable, and tailor-made charging solutions for the Chinese market.
The charging stations are intended to be public while still giving unique services to BMW and Mercedes clients, such as online bookings. According to industry observers, the German car titans' decision indicates rising demand in the Chinese NEV sector, generating huge prospects for both Chinese and international players.
China is BMW and Mercedes' most significant single market. BMW (including MINI) delivered 791,985 vehicles in China in 2022, while Mercedes sold over 751,700 vehicles in China, accounting for 37 of the Group's sales. According to LandRoads, a Shanghai-based consultancy, BMW sold 78,568 battery EVs in China in the first ten months of this year, while Mercedes-Benz sold 20,595.
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