Mercedes-Benz and BMW Brilliance Auto to Establish Joint Venture in China

The European Commission has given its approval to a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz (China) Investment Co., Ltd. and BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd., as per the EU Merger Regulation. The primary focus of this joint venture is the development of public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in China.

Despite the transaction’s potential implications, the European Commission concluded that it would not pose competitive issues due to its limited impact on the European Economic Area. As a result, the transaction underwent a simplified merger review procedure.

Last year, on November 30, BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. and Mercedes-Benz (China) Investment Co., Ltd. signed a cooperative agreement. This agreement aims to establish a 50:50 joint venture in China, responsible for operating a supercharging network to meet the increasing demand for high-end charging services.

By the end of 2026, the joint venture aims to construct at least 1,000 supercharging stations equipped with advanced technology and approximately 7,000 supercharging piles across China. Operations are set to commence in 2024 in key Chinese cities known for their new energy vehicle initiatives, with subsequent developments planned for other regions nationwide.

The charging network developed by the joint venture will be publicly accessible. Customers of both the BMW Group and Mercedes-Benz Group will be offered exclusive services such as immediate charging upon plugging in, online reservations, and a seamless digital charging experience. In addition, the joint venture plans to source renewable energy for charging, conditions permitting, to ensure a sustainable and luxurious charging experience for their Chinese customers.

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