Mercedes-Benz cars are made by Mercedes-Benz Group AG, a publicly traded German company with no single controlling shareholder, though Chinese automaker BAIC Group and businessman Li Shufu each hold significant stakes.
Mercedes-Benz Group emerged from the 2019 restructuring of what was previously Daimler AG, separating trucks and buses into a distinct company called Daimler Truck.
The Mercedes-Benz name itself dates back further, formed in 1926 through the merger of Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler earlier automotive companies.
This guide covers who owns Mercedes-Benz, its founding history, where its vehicles are built, its current lineup, and the brands under the wider Mercedes-Benz umbrella.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Mercedes-Benz?
Mercedes-Benz Group AG is a publicly traded company listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, with no single shareholder holding majority control.
BAIC Group, a Chinese state linked automaker, holds close to 10 percent of Mercedes-Benz Group shares, making it one of the largest single shareholders.
Chinese billionaire Li Shufu, who also controls Geely and Volvo, holds a comparable stake through separate investment vehicles, while the Kuwait Investment Authority holds a smaller long standing position.
| Company Name | Mercedes-Benz Group AG |
| Headquarters | Stuttgart, Germany |
| Founded | 1926 (Mercedes-Benz brand), 1886 (original patent motorcar) |
| Chairman and CEO | Ola Kallenius |
| Largest Shareholders | BAIC Group, Li Shufu related entities, Kuwait Investment Authority |
| Owned Brands | Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, smart (joint venture with Geely) |
| Stock Listing | Frankfurt Stock Exchange (MBG) |
| Ownership Type | Publicly traded, widely held |
When Was Mercedes-Benz Founded and Who Started It?
Mercedes-Benz traces its origins to two separate German inventors, Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler, who independently developed some of the first practical automobiles in the 1880s.
Their companies, Benz and Cie and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, merged in 1926 to form Daimler-Benz, creating the Mercedes-Benz brand from the combined engineering resources.
The Mercedes name itself came earlier, borrowed from the daughter of an Austrian businessman who had commissioned custom Daimler vehicles in the early 1900s.
Mercedes-Benz Corporate Milestones
Karl Benz patents the Benz Patent Motorwagen, widely regarded as the first true automobile.
Benz and Daimler merge to create Daimler-Benz, introducing the Mercedes-Benz brand.
Daimler-Benz merges with Chrysler in a deal that unwinds a decade later.
Daimler sells Chrysler, refocusing entirely on the Mercedes-Benz and truck businesses.
Daimler AG splits into Mercedes-Benz Group and the separately listed Daimler Truck.
Mercedes-Benz Group fully separates from Daimler Truck as an independent passenger car company.
Mercedes-Benz fully exits its Denza joint venture in China, refocusing local strategy.
How Does Mercedes-Benz Compare to BMW and Audi?
Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi make up the German luxury three, each pursuing slightly different ownership paths despite competing head to head on nearly every model.
BMW remains family influenced through the Quandt family, a structure explained in our separate guide on who makes BMW.
Mercedes-Benz, by contrast, has no dominant family or founder linked shareholder, making its ownership base broader and more geographically diverse than BMW.
That diversity brings both strength, in the form of global capital access, and complexity, since large shareholders based in China and the Middle East can draw political scrutiny in some markets.
Mercedes-Benz by the Numbers
Mercedes-Benz remains one of the most recognized luxury vehicle brands in the world by both sales and brand value rankings.
These figures show a company with more than a century of automotive history but an ownership structure shaped heavily by developments over just the past two decades.
Where Are Mercedes-Benz Cars Made?
Mercedes-Benz operates a major United States plant near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, building SUVs including the GLE, GLS, and the electric EQS SUV for global export. A rival German luxury brand is covered in our guide on who makes Maserati.
In Germany, Mercedes-Benz builds vehicles at Sindelfingen, its largest and oldest plant, along with facilities in Bremen and Rastatt.
Additional Mercedes-Benz plants operate in Hungary, China, and South Africa, supporting both regional demand and global export volume.
What Models Does Mercedes-Benz Currently Make?
The C-Class and E-Class remain Mercedes-Benz core sedan offerings, with the flagship S-Class serving as the brand ultra luxury benchmark.
SUVs span the compact GLA through the full size GLS, while the G-Class continues as a boxy off road icon with a devoted following.
Mercedes-AMG builds high performance versions across the lineup, and the EQ badge covers electric models including the EQS sedan and EQB compact SUV.
Mercedes-Maybach offers ultra luxury variants of the S-Class and GLS for buyers wanting the highest level of factory customization.
What Brands Are Part of Mercedes-Benz Group?
Mercedes-AMG operates as the in house performance division, tuning engines and chassis for enthusiast focused variants of mainstream models.
Mercedes-Maybach serves as the ultra luxury sub brand, targeting buyers cross shopping Rolls-Royce and Bentley.
Mercedes-Benz also holds a 50 percent stake in the smart Automobile joint venture with Chinese automaker Geely, producing electric small cars primarily for markets outside the United States.
Is Mercedes-Benz Really Good or Worth Buying?
- Refined interiors and advanced technology across the lineup
- Strong safety reputation with a long history of engineering firsts
- Wide model range from compact cars to ultra luxury sedans
- Established performance credibility through the AMG division
- Maintenance and repair costs run higher than mainstream brands
- Consumer Reports has rated Mercedes-Benz reliability below average in recent years
- Complex infotainment systems have drawn mixed owner feedback
- Many desirable features are bundled into costly optional packages
Mercedes-Benz interior quality and technology remain class leading, but reliability surveys suggest buyers should budget for higher maintenance costs after the warranty period.
Certified pre owned Mercedes-Benz models can offer a middle ground, combining remaining warranty coverage with a lower purchase price than new.
What Is Next for Mercedes-Benz?
Mercedes-Benz has scaled back some earlier electric only ambitions, now planning to keep combustion and hybrid options available well into the next decade.
The company continues investing in its EQ electric lineup while prioritizing profitability over pure sales volume, a shift CEO Ola Kallenius has emphasized repeatedly.
Mercedes-Benz has also expanded its own software and infotainment platform, aiming to reduce reliance on outside technology suppliers over time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Who Makes Mercedes-Benz
Does China own Mercedes-Benz?
Not exactly. Chinese entities BAIC Group and businessman Li Shufu together hold a significant minority stake, but no single shareholder controls Mercedes-Benz Group.
Is Mercedes-Benz the same company as Daimler?
Mercedes-Benz Group is the successor to Daimler AG passenger car business, after trucks and buses were spun off into the separate Daimler Truck company in 2021.
Where is the Mercedes-Benz GLE made?
The Mercedes-Benz GLE is built at the Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant in the United States, alongside the GLS and electric EQS SUV.
Is Mercedes-Benz a reliable car brand?
Recent reliability studies from Consumer Reports have placed Mercedes-Benz below the industry average, with electronics and infotainment among the most common complaint areas.
For current pricing and specifications, visit the official Mercedes-Benz website.
Background on company history is available on the Mercedes-Benz Wikipedia page, and shareholder details are covered on the official Mercedes-Benz Group investor page.
The Mercedes-Benz name has carried enough brand equity that it survived a difficult decade long merger with Chrysler, a split from its own truck division, and multiple changes in large shareholders without ever losing its position as one of the most recognized car brands in the world.
That resilience is partly why global investors, including sovereign wealth funds and Chinese industrial groups, continue to view a stake in Mercedes-Benz Group as an attractive long term holding despite periods of industry disruption.
For everyday buyers, none of this ownership complexity changes how a C-Class or GLE is engineered, built, or supported through Mercedes-Benz own dealer network worldwide.
Shoppers deciding between a Mercedes-Benz and a rival luxury brand often find the choice comes down to styling preference, dealer proximity, and specific feature packages rather than any single ownership related factor.
Understanding who owns the company mainly helps explain long term strategic decisions, such as electric vehicle investment pacing or which markets receive priority attention from engineering teams.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.