Mercedes-Benz Group AGSenate bill could ban Mercedes sales in U.S. due to Chinese ownership stakes totaling ~20%, threatening its U.S. presence.
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kaellenius said the automaker will protect its U.S. presence even if a new Senate bill banning sales by companies with more than 15% Chinese ownership becomes law. The Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026, passed unanimously by the Senate Commerce Committee, would block sales from automakers with over 15% Chinese ownership, and nearly 20% of Mercedes is held by Chinese entities—Geely founder Eric Li Shufu owns 9.7% and Beijing Automotive Group owns 9.98%. Kaellenius noted the shareholders do not act in concert and are not on the board, but acknowledged the geopolitical environment and said Mercedes will make adjustments to comply if needed. The company reported an 8% year-over-year decline in second-quarter global sales to 417,800 vehicles, driven by a 27% drop in Asia due to intensifying competition and product ramp-ups in China.
Mercedes-Benz Group AGSenate bill could ban Mercedes sales in U.S. due to Chinese ownership stakes totaling ~20%, threatening its U.S. presence.
Geely Automobile Holdings LtdGeely founder owns 9.7% of Mercedes, but the bill targets automakers with >15% Chinese ownership; Geely's stake is below threshold, and the article does not discuss direct impact on Geely.