As of: March 28, 2024, 7:06 p.m
By: Sebastian Oppenheimer
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As a result of the e-car crisis, Mercedes wants to produce certain combustion engine series for longer than planned. Now it is clear: Diesel is also being further developed.
Electromobility is currently in crisis. Large car rental companies such as Hertz and Sixt have significantly scaled back their plans to expand their electric vehicle fleet - Hertz is even selling a third of its electric car fleet. According to the companies, demand for electric cars is much lower than expected. But high repair costs and, above all, an enormous loss in the value of electric cars are also a problem. Things are also looking bleak in retail: according to a survey, 91 percent of German car dealerships expect “poor” or “very poor” order intake for electric cars in 2024. Mercedes is also apparently feeling the current situation - and is initiating a U-turn.
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Crisis in electric cars: Premium manufacturers react differently
The premium manufacturers are reacting differently to the current situation: Audi boss Gernot Döllner recently announced in an interview that they should “not allow themselves to be unsettled” by the current discussions. Audi is sticking to its plan to only sell electric cars from 2033 - the last major world premieres of new model series with conventional drives are scheduled to take place in 2026. Mercedes boss Ola Källenius, on the other hand, recently stated with regard to the future of e-mobility that there was probably “a bit too much optimism”. The Stuttgart car manufacturer is changing course: Some Mercedes combustion engine series are to be built longer than planned.
At Mercedes, the diesel engine is also being further developed - this was emphasized by company boss Ola Källenius. (Symbolic image) © Chromorange/Imago
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Diesels are being further modernized – “And then the customer decides what he wants”
As Källenius told the magazine
Auto, Motor und Sport
in an interview, not only gasoline models should remain on offer and be modernized, but also diesel models. The decision was made to keep all relevant drive combinations fit. “And then the customer decides what he wants,” says Källenius. The diesel hybrid will also be further modernized. “It is doing particularly well on the German market and will remain on offer as long as there is demand.”
The Munich premium manufacturer BMW continues to be open to technology - the car manufacturer is sticking to the mix of combustion and electric cars. And when it comes to hydrogen, they are also staying tuned, because BMW boss Oliver Zipse sees hydrogen as the next trend. Which strategy will prevail in the automotive industry is currently completely open. Recently there have also been signs that the combustion engine phase-out planned for 2035 could be overturned.