Daimler preparing to manufacture electric smart cars in China
The Germany-based company, Daimler, is in talks to develop battery-powered Smart cars in a bid to increase sales in China, according to Business Report.
In order to boost the brand in cities around the world, the automotive maker deliberating the potential of a collaboration with Beijing Automotive Group to produce Smart EVs.
The proposed joint venture is aimed at stopping the decline in sales of smart vehicles, in addition to appealing to the local market.
Smart’s main offering to Daimler has been to help stop the emissions of Mercedes S-Class sedan and AMG GT sports cars.
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China has become known as the leading market for electric vehicles and is focused on setting the trend in electrification.
The Asian country wants to impose a cap of carbon emissions and improve air quality.
In March, the car giants acquired a 4% stake in BJEV which is said to “further deepen its understanding of Chinese consumers’ needs.”
By 2025, the country hopes to boost sales of new-energy vehicles to 7mn units annually, which include plug-in hybrids, pure-electric and fuel-cell vehicles.
Globally, the firm has suffered an almost 7% decrease in sales of the vehicles to 135,025 last year.