Daimler’s recent high-level discussions in China demonstrates the German manufacturer’s seriousness when it comes to the vast market.
Plenty of people make substantial noises about China, but Daimler shipped virtually its whole board east for an extremely high-powered day of discussions that also saw a raft of analysts pitch in with their take on the market.
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The question on everyone’s lips of course is does Daimler’s considerable effort in the Far East herald a move by Chinese investors to take a stake in the company?
And the answer is a probable yes. Daimler has made no secret it would welcome investment from China although has kept any specific amount confidential for the time being.
And as the maker of prestigious vehicles, it has a ready market in China’s burgeoning wealthy class that eyes its Mercedes-Benz models in particular.
Any potential investment will not happen quickly. “It is not something we can do overnight,” as Daimler told just-auto, but there is a clear acknowledgement that as well as the importance of selling cars, the manufacturer recognises the possibility it might secure Chinese investment although that is a “longer term project.”
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By GlobalDataThe importance of China to Daimler is clear as the country is now the third-largest sales market for Mercedes-Benz after Germany and the US and expects to sell around 100,000 vehicles this year compared to 67,000 in 2009.
China is already the biggest market worldwide for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and R-Class model series.
Despite the company’s coyness about revealing the nature of potential Chinese investors, Daimler’s willingness to hold another pow-wow in China shows its clear intent in the eastern powerhouse. “It certainly won’t be the first and only one,” added the manufacturer.
Speculation surrounding any Chinese investment also comes as Daimler made it clear it would not be changing the status of its shareholding in European aerospace giant EADS.
“For the time being, there is no change in the shareholding at all,” it insisted. “We are committed.”
Daimler is positioning itself nicely should any investor from the east declare its hand and decide to come on board.
The carmaker’s decision to send virtually its entire top brass to Beijing is an unambiguous signal it means business.
