Trade dispute Källenius: Mercedes almost as American as US companies
In the customs dispute between the EU and the USA, Mercedes boss Ola Källenius has pointed out the car manufacturer's long US tradition. Nevertheless, he has no interest in an escalating trade conflict, as Källenius told the German news agency DPA.
14.03.2025, 05:41
SDA
Mercedes is almost as American as any other American company and older than most American companies, the manager told DPA at the presentation of the new Mercedes CLA in Rome. Mercedes is "at home" in the USA.
Källenius does not believe in a trade conflict, because "that could disrupt the flow of goods in both directions, and that would be an economic burden".
Exports and imports "in all directions"
US President Donald Trump has imposed high tariffs on goods from various countries that are imported into the USA. Because Mercedes-Benz also produces in the USA, the company does not have to pay tariffs on the cars it builds and sells there. "But we produce, import and export in all directions," said Källenius, referring to other car plants of the Baden-Württemberg-based company, for example in China and of course Europe.
Mercedes-Benz has two large plants in the USA. In Tuscaloosa in the state of Alabama, the company says it produced 260,000 cars last year and employed 6,000 people. The site is the traditional SUV plant. According to Mercedes, around two thirds of annual production is exported. Sprinters are produced at the Vans plant in Charleston in the US state of South Carolina, most recently by around 1700 employees. Mercedes sold a total of 324,500 cars and 49,500 vans in the USA last year.
Export is Europe's business model
In his opinion, Europe has the most to lose among the world's major economic regions "when the markets close". This is because Europe's business model, and Germany's in particular, has been based on exports since the Second World War.
This is also the reason why he always says to protectionists: "Wait a minute, let's not forget what has also driven growth over the last 30 years. Where did economic growth come from? Not just from trade, but trade has played an extremely important role."
