- Mercedes is reportedly discussing wider use of Geely components to reduce EV development costs.
- The reported cooperation would not extend to full platform sharing.
- A new entry-level EV platform could arrive around 2030 to replace MMA.
Mercedes-Benz could lean more heavily on Chinese partner Geely for future electric vehicles, as the German brand looks to cut costs and accelerate development for its next wave of EVs.
A new report suggests early-stage discussions have taken place between the two companies, potentially opening the door for Geely-sourced components in upcoming Mercedes models.
While nothing is locked in, the move would align with a broader industry trend: established European brands tapping into China’s rapid EV development pace.
Faster, cheaper, still Mercedes?
Core to the talks is a familiar challenge of building competitive EVs without blowing out budgets or timelines.
According to the report, integrating Geely technology could help Mercedes reduce engineering costs and shorten development cycles, particularly as battery and motor tech continues to evolve quickly.
Mercedes hasn’t confirmed any formal agreement, but a spokesperson said the company is “continually reviewing ways to make research and development faster, better and more efficient both in China and globally.”
Notably, Mercedes has pushed back on suggestions of full platform sharing, signalling that any collaboration would likely stop short of handing over the underlying architecture entirely.
China’s EV edge
The interest in deeper cooperation isn’t happening in a vacuum. Chinese manufacturers, including BYD, Geely, Xpeng and Chery, have made significant gains in EV hardware, particularly in batteries and electric drivetrains.
Other European brands are already moving in that direction. Volkswagen, for example, has partnered with Xpeng and is sharing EV architecture for certain upcoming models.
Mercedes and Geely are no strangers either. The two companies jointly run the Smart brand, where Mercedes handles design and Geely takes care of engineering and production.
A new platform on the horizon
Looking further ahead, reports out of China suggest Mercedes could base its next-generation entry-level EV platform on Geely’s GEEA electronic and electrical architecture.
Internally referred to as “Phoenix”, the platform is tipped to underpin future compact EVs sold globally, with a potential launch window around 2030. If it arrives, it would replace the current MMA (Mercedes Modular Architecture) used for smaller electric models.
DRIVEN understands Mercedes has not disclosed final technical details or confirmed timelines yet.
For now, the key takeaway is clear: as the EV race tightens, even brands like Mercedes are exploring new ways to stay competitive, and that increasingly means looking east for speed and scale.