At the 2026 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference, two top Mercedes-Benz executives delivered a joint speech titled "From Capability to Trust: Mercedes-Benz's View on Intelligent Development," in which they praised China's "speed" and reaffirmed the company's intention to deepen its cooperation with the Chinese market. The remarks were reported by Gasgoo, a Chinese automotive news outlet.
Ola Källenius, chairman of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz Group, speaking via video link, said that few places in the world combine ambition and speed like China, where innovative ideas quickly move from concept to reality, with technology companies, suppliers, researchers and policymakers all moving in the same direction. He stressed that to stay at the forefront of technology, one must actively participate in the Chinese market rather than stand on the sidelines.
Källenius noted that Mercedes-Benz engineers in Beijing and Shanghai are at the core of innovation, deeply understanding China's roads, traffic conditions and consumer needs. By leveraging its global network and working with local partners, the company aims to combine German engineering standards and an uncompromising commitment to safety with China's renowned speed and innovation vitality. He also emphasized that China is one of Mercedes-Benz's most important markets and a hub for R&D and innovation, where the company has made long-term investments and commitments.
Local R&D and partnerships
Hubertus Troska, member of the board of management and chairman and CEO of Mercedes-Benz China, echoed the theme of "China speed" at the event, humorously noting that he had prepared a long speech but would "practice China speed" and get to the point. He pointed out that China is an important innovation center for electric vehicles and intelligent technology, and that Mercedes-Benz is better integrating into the local ecosystem.
Troska revealed that more than 2,000 engineers are engaged in local R&D in China. The company is collaborating with Tsinghua University to develop a visual-language AI model that will be deployed globally. It is also working with Momenta, a Chinese autonomous driving company, to expand its assisted driving systems from purely electric models to its entire product portfolio, using 17 billion kilometers of real-world driving data from China for vehicle validation. This combines decades of engineering experience with a deep understanding of the local market.
Mercedes-Benz's approach to safety, Troska said, is built on four layers: active, passive, functional and digital safety. The company has conducted 15,000 crash simulations, 30 to 80 real-world crash tests in China, and durability validation of over 5 million kilometers per vehicle. He stressed that high-quality development is not just about speed but also about quality, safety and customer trust.
In conclusion, Troska said Mercedes-Benz is willing to learn from Chinese partners and share its engineering experience to jointly build a safe and reliable intelligent mobility future. The speech underscored the company's long-term commitment to China, which remains a key market and innovation hub for the German automaker.
