by Despite Mercedes-Benz recently presenting new electric vehicles, such as the next-generation CLA and GLC, the company is already planning its next steps. According to reports, the German automaker may deepen its cooperation with the Chinese giant Geely to develop future electric cars.
Potential Benefits of Cooperation
Sources report that Mercedes held preliminary discussions with Geely regarding future electric models. It is likely that these cars will receive components from the Chinese brand. Such a move would allow Mercedes to significantly reduce engineering development costs and accelerate the launch of new models to the market.
A Mercedes representative stated that the company “constantly reviews ways to make research and development faster, better, and more efficient — both in China and worldwide.”
At the same time, the brand’s representative emphasized that this is not about sharing platforms with Geely. This distinguishes Mercedes’ strategy from the approach of another German conglomerate, Volkswagen, which already cooperates with the Chinese company Xpeng, sharing architectures for future electric vehicles with it.
Existing Ties and Future Projects
Mercedes and Geely already have experience in successful cooperation through the joint brand Smart, which now produces exclusively electric vehicles. The design of these cars is developed by Mercedes, while engineering work and production are handled by Geely.
Despite denials regarding shared platforms, information has emerged about a possible technical alliance. According to reports from China, Mercedes may develop its next electric vehicle platform based on Geely’s GEEA (Geely Electric and Electronic Architecture). This new platform, possibly named “Phoenix,” is intended for affordable electric vehicles for the global market and could replace the current MMA architecture around 2030.
Chinese automakers such as Geely, BYD, and Xpeng are demonstrating impressive technological advancements in batteries and electric motors, often outpacing Western competitors. For European brands, cooperation with them is becoming not just an option, but a strategic necessity to remain competitive in the electric vehicle era. The deepening ties between Mercedes and Geely could become another example of how the global automotive industry is rethinking traditional alliances, where technological leadership is increasingly defined by the geography of innovation, rather than brand history.
