Mercedes-Benz (MBGAF) is preparing for the Trump trading war by fulfilling the shutters and stimulating EV and hybrid innovations after a challenging year.
But the CEO, Ola Kälenius, has a message to the Trump administration: don’t forget how much we have invested in the US.
Close: February 20 at 15:54:56 EST
“We are also an American company,” Kälenius responded to a video call with reporters on Thursday, with regard to how the company intends to treat potential rates. “Yes, we have our headquarters in Germany and we have European origins, but we feel American. I also spent six years of my Mercedes career in the United States. My children are born in the United States. I feel myself Deep, deep connected to the US “
Kälenius added: “We are willing to continue to invest billions and we want our footprint to grow in the United States. So we are dedicated. A bit known fact, we are one of the most important industrial exporters in the United States. Two -thirds of the Vehicles that we make in our Tuscaloosa factory actually goes into the world, an important part of them, of course, to Europe.
The car industry can be informed if President Trump wants to implement rates.
On Tuesday, the President Automotive rates from 25%of the American car manufacturers such as General Motors (GM) and Ford (F) and overseas rivals Mercedes-Benz were able to hammer.
Next: February 20 at 4:00:02 pm Est
Of the 374,000 vehicles that Mercedes-Benz sold in the US last year, more than half were imported, according to the company. About 13% of German car exports go to the United States, more than to any other country, according to new data from the German Auto Association VDA.
“Rates are the wrong negotiating instrument,” said VDA President Hildegard Müller this week in a statement.
The administration already has a rate of 25% on all imported steel and a rate of 10% on Chinese import on top of existing tasks. China took revenge and placed rates on selected chips and metals.
Read more: What are rates and how do they influence you?
Trump recently agreed to pausing 25% rates on Canada and Mexico until the beginning of March.
Car leaders have started to publicly speak out about the rate issue, while trying to influence Trump’s opinion about their usefulness of the American economy and companies.
“If they become permanent, then there are a whole series of different things that you have to think about in terms of, where do you promote plants and you move plants, etc.” Wednesday.
“Those are questions that simply have no answer today, because I can tell you, as much as the market praises in a major impact of rates and lost profitability, think about a world where we at the top we ‘I publish billions of capital and then ends It. “
