Electrification & Mobility▼impact 4
Mercedes Faces 2030 US Ban Risk Over Nearly 20% Chinese Ownership
Mercedes-Benz is seeking changes to a bipartisan Senate bill that could ban its connected-vehicle sales in the US from 2030 because Chinese investors hold nearly 20% of the company, exceeding the proposed 15% ownership limit. The automaker is pushing lawmakers to raise the threshold to 25%, matching the cutoff proposed for suppliers, while the Senate Commerce Committee is also considering replacing the fixed percentage with a broader national-security risk assessment. BAIC Motor and Geely founder Li Shu Fu each hold nearly 10% stakes, and Mercedes says no single shareholder exceeds 10% or has board representation. The legislation would not apply to existing operations until 2030, giving Mercedes roughly three years to comply or secure changes, as it employs thousands in the US and recently announced a $4 billion investment in its Alabama plant through 2030.