Mercedes-Benz announced on September 4 a significant investment of over 14 billion RMB ($2 billion) with local partners to expand its product lineup in China, beginning production in 2025 of the all-electric long-wheelbase CLA, GLE SUV, and a new luxury MPV. Over 10 billion RMB will go towards passenger vehicle operations, while 4 billion RMB will support light commercial vehicle production. Mercedes joint ventures, Beijing Benz and Fujian Benz, will produce these new models, including the first locally made GLE SUV developed by a Chinese R&D team. This investment aligns with Mercedes long-term strategy to deepen its presence in China, a key market for its electrification efforts, and comes as other German automakers like Volkswagen and BMW also ramp up their investments in China.