Mercedes-Benz to Adopt Geely Electric Vehicle Technology

HANGZHOU, KOMPAS.com - The global automotive industry is moving rapidly to keep pace with developments in electric vehicles (EVs). Many major manufacturers are now seeking new ways to stay competitive amid these technological changes, and one of them is Mercedes-Benz. The German luxury carmaker, which has been established for more than 130 years, has started to team up with Chinese company Geely to develop its next generation of electric vehicles. Quoted from ArenaEV, in this latest project Mercedes-Benz has teamed with Geely to develop a new platform for compact electric cars provisionally code-named “Phoenix.” In this collaboration, Mercedes-Benz will use Geely’s electronic and electrical architecture known as GEEA 4.0. This system can be likened to the car’s “brain” as it controls a range of functions, from the battery to the dashboard display. The platform will subsequently be used for several new Mercedes models, including the next-generation CLA, and possibly electric versions of the A-Class and B-Class. One of the reasons is cost efficiency. Developing electric vehicles requires very large investments. Meanwhile, Geely is regarded as having more efficient production methods, which can reduce development costs. Interestingly, the project will also mark the first time Mercedes-Benz has given a leading role to engineering teams outside Germany in a global project. Mercedes-Benz’s research and development centre in Beijing, China, will become the main base for developing the compact car. Mercedes-Benz targets Phoenix-based vehicles to begin mass production in 2030. These cars will be marketed not only in China but also sold globally. This step is also influenced by the increasingly fierce competition in the Chinese automotive market. Local brands such as Nio and Aito are now stronger in the premium electric vehicle segment.