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Graphic shows details of the deal and China’s share of the global EV market.
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BUSINESS

China’s Geely builds $9bn stake in Daimler

By Duncan Mil

February 27, 2018 - Chinese carmaker Geely has become Mercedes-maker Daimler’s largest investor, taking a €7.3 billion-stake -- 9.7 percent of Daimler’s shares -- for access to know-how in electric and self-driving vehicles.

Geely burst onto the global stage in 2010 with its $1.8 billion acquisition of Sweden’s Volvo Cars. Geely also owns several other carmakers including British sports car brand Lotus, London’s black-cab maker LEVC, Malaysian carmaker Proton and U.S flying car start-up Terrafugia. It has agreed to buy a $3.3 billion stake in Volvo Trucks.

Geely is the Hangzhou-based flagship of photographer-turned-tycoon, Li Shufu, China’s most prosperous private-sector auto industry entrepreneur, with a fortune estimated by Forbes to be worth $17 billion.

Daimler already has joint ventures with Chinese EV makers BAIC Motor Corp. and BYD. Daimler and Warren Buffett-backed BYD -- short for “Build Your Dreams” -- are involved in a joint electric brand, Denza, while BAIC and Daimler have announced plans for a new $1.9 billion factory in China for Mercedes-Benz cars.

Geely rival Great Wall Motor Co., China’s largest producer of SUVs and pick-up trucks, also struck a deal with BMW last week to jointly produce Mini electric vehicles in China.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 28/02/2018; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Associated Press
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