Martin Brudermüller, the Chairman of Mercedes’ Supervisory Board, has defended CEO Ola Källenius’s continued focus on combustion engine vehicles. Speaking to the Handelsblatt, Brudermüller stated that while Mercedes has not fundamentally changed its core strategy regarding becoming fully electric, the implementation timeline is simply taking longer. Although Källenius had previously announced a goal of offering primarily electric vehicles until the end of the decade, the company will now continue to produce traditional combustion engine models well into the 2030s.
According to Brudermüller, if customers want to purchase an ICE vehicle for longer than many expected, it is a business necessity for the company to respond to that demand. Additionally, he noted that Källenius has shifted away from solely focusing on a luxury strategy, opting instead to build premium vehicles across all price ranges. Brudermüller agreed that it was right for Mercedes to succeed particularly at the high end of the market, though he added that he was unsure if pinning down a single word defined the company’s ultimate priorities. He concluded by stating, “Ola Källenius does not constantly change his strategies.”
