The CEO of Mercedes-Benz has hinted that the German automaker could attract customers from rival brands as Tesla faces a sharp downturn.
Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company saw a 76% drop in sales in Germany, with consumer sentiment souring following Musk’s public support for the AfD party and a controversial gesture resembling a Roman salute.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius said:
“I do think we have an opportunity to lure customers from other brands into Mercedes. Whether they come from the usual suspects—competitors we have known for 100 years—or from new players, we have an opportunity in both spaces.”
Källenius is looking to reverse a 3% decline in Mercedes’ global sales in 2024, hoping to appeal to disillusioned EV buyers with the company’s most advanced vehicle lineup to date.
He is also keeping a close eye on potential U.S. trade policies under Donald Trump, emphasising Mercedes’ deep-rooted presence in the U.S.—with over a century of history and two factories employing more than 11,000 workers.
“What we’re hoping as part of this conversation is that it’s taken into account that companies not only invested, but emotionally invested, in the U.S. are encouraged to continue investing,” Källenius added. “We feel American. We’re part of the fabric.”
