Climate protection

Climate protection in vehicles and services

Strategy and concepts

All-electric future

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The Mercedes-Benz Group believes that the complete electrification of its product range is the most important lever for making its entire new vehicle fleet CO₂-neutral on the balance sheet across all stages of the value chain by 2039. By the end of this decade, the Mercedes-Benz Group wants to be all-electric wherever market conditions allow. The strategic step to “Electric only” will accelerate the transformation of Mercedes-Benz to an all-electric and software-driven future.

However, CO₂ emissions are not only produced during the manufacture of components for purely battery-electric vehicles, but also during the generation of the charging current. Against this background, the “Green Charging” initiative is a further step on the road to CO₂-neutral on the balance sheet mobility: with this, the Mercedes-Benz Group enables its customers to charge their vehicles with green electricity. Through the use of certificates of origin, it is ensured that an equivalent amount of electricity from renewable sources is fed into the power grid for the charging processes.

As early as November 2021, the Mercedes-Benz Group underscored its commitment to this transformation during the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference. In the “COP26 declaration on accelerating the transition to 100% zero-emission cars and vans”, the Mercedes-Benz Group undertakes to work together with other companies, cities and governments to achieve CO₂-neutral transport for the future. The company is convinced that the electrification of vehicles will be instrumental in accelerating the transformation.

With "Ambition 2039", the Mercedes-Benz Group not only wants to contribute to an on the balance sheet climate-neutral world  – the group also wants to inspire its customers to welcome this on the balance sheet climate-neutral future. For many of them, it is important that products they use do not cause any damage to the environment and that to achieve this they do not have to make any compromises in their everyday lives. With its product range, the company aims to meet both customer demands.

Regulatory framework for CO₂-neutral road traffic

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For Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans, there are legal regulations covering binding targets for the average fleet consumption and CO₂ emissions for new vehicle fleets. The high-volume markets in China, Europe and the USA are particularly regulated. However, such fleet regulations should not be seen as stand-alone solutions. Instead, they are an important part of a broader regulatory environment, because of the following general rule: effective and ambitious fleet regulations must be complemented by coherent policy measures such as promoting the development of the charging infrastructure and the expansion of renewable energies. In addition, other framework conditions such as fiscal and non-fiscal incentives are needed in order to ensure that mobility remains affordable. The Mercedes-Benz Group therefore strongly favours a political and regulatory framework that accelerates the transition to CO₂-neutral mobility. This also includes gradually integrating the transport sector into the emissions trading.

Environmental aspects in product development

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The Mercedes-Benz Group has set itself the goal of developing products that are especially environmentally friendly and energy-efficient in their respective market segments. The company’s own environmental and energy guidelines define how it intends to achieve this goal. The Mercedes-Benz Group sets itself clear targets and has defined corresponding metrics which indicate how successful it is in achieving them. This applies to every series and to every individual product. Product development plays a key role in this regard: the impact of a vehicle on the environment – and thus what CO₂ emissions it causes – is largely determined in the early stages of development. The earlier the company takes environmental aspects into account, the more efficiently it can reduce the ecological impact of its vehicles.

Responsibilities and data transparency

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An interdisciplinary team of environmental experts and specialists in procurement, development, logistics, production, strategy and sales is working at the Mercedes-Benz Group to make the company’s fleet of new cars CO₂-neutral on the balance sheet by 2039. It monitors CO₂ emissions and controls reduction measures.

First, this concerns the CO₂ emissions when driving – the so-called tank-to-wheel emissions. Since 2008, the Product Strategy CO₂ unit has ensured that ambitious consumption and portfolio measures are implemented in good time and to best economic effect. One of the major milestones for this was electrification of the passenger car fleet in order to achieve the demanding EU fleet targets in 2020.

The Board of Management of the Mercedes-Benz Group AG is responsible for setting strategic goals, including targets for reducing the CO₂ emissions, and for monitoring the progress made in achieving these goals. The Product Steering Board (PSB) is responsible for the car fleet. This body monitors the development of the CO₂ emissions of the car fleet in markets in which such emissions are regulated. It is also responsible for providing forecasts. In its evaluations, the PSB takes into account a variety of factors, including the increasing degree of vehicle electrification and the changes that have been made to legal requirements, for example those related to the introduction of the WLTP certification procedure. The PSB is assigned to the Committee for Model Policy and Product Planning (AMP). The Product Strategy unit ensures compliance with the CO₂ fleet emission limits for vans and reports on this regularly to the Van Executive Committee. The Committee for Model Policy and Product Planning and the Van Executive Committee both inform the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. The Board of Management then decides which measures need to be implemented. On the market side of the equation, price and volume control measures can also affect our ability to achieve our CO₂ targets over the short term. For this reason, such measures are also discussed with the Board of Management within the framework of regular reporting on the current state of CO₂ fleet compliance.

The responsibility for ensuring that the climate protection targets are implemented is distributed across several corporate units and Board of Management members: the development units of the vehicle divisions are responsible at the vehicle level. For cars and vans, these are the “Drive Systems Product Group” development unit, the product groups of the vehicles and Mercedes-Benz Vans Development. In each current year, the sales unit manages the achievement of the CO₂ target. At the level of the production plants and the company’s own-retail outlets, the respective Board of Management member for Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans is responsible. Mercedes-Benz Group AG monitors the implementation at Group management level.

"Ambition 2039" also relates to all other CO₂ emissions that occur in the life cycle of a vehicle. For example, the Environmental Protection unit calculates the CO₂ emissions of all model series and drive systems at Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans. To obtain an overview of the emissions, the company produces environmental and ecological balance sheets for the entire life cycle of vehicles. The company’s procurement departments work with around 2000 direct suppliers to make the supply chain CO₂-neutral on the balance sheet as well. The logistics experts address emissions from the supply of goods, distribution and delivery to distribution centres. Their goal is to avoid shipments as much as possible and to optimise routes and transport systems. The teams also apply additional measures for achieving CO₂ neutrality on the balance sheet in areas like production and customer-specific charging concepts.

To enable comprehensive recording and control of the CO₂ contribution of the individual units, data transparency over the entire life cycle is the key factor: for this purpose, the Mercedes-Benz Group has developed an internal monitoring tool for CO₂ calculation. This makes it possible to track the progress with regard to CO₂ targets down to model series level and, for the first time, to present climate-relevant emissions down to the last nut and bolt. At the same time, the fleet level can also be analysed. The CO₂ monitoring tool maps two central perspectives on the company’s climate protection activities: firstly, the strategic view of management and investors; this looks at the annual development of CO₂ emissions of all vehicles sold and shows whether the company is on target. Secondly, the detailed view of the design engineers and procurement personnel within the model series support function; with the help of this tool, they can ascertain what emissions are currently attributable to the battery of an EQS, and by what percentage this value must be reduced with regard to the company’s own CO₂ targets.

CO₂ emissions along the entire value chain

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To evaluate how environmentally compatible a vehicle is, the Mercedes-Benz Group conducts ecological assessments: the company systematically analyses the generated CO₂ emissions and other environmental impacts along the entire value chain of a vehicle – from raw material extraction through production and use to recycling. Among other things, these analyses have shown that as more and more vehicles are electrified, the focus is shifting towards other factors such as production of the high-voltage battery and generation of the electricity for charging the battery. Since the launch of the EQS, battery cells have been produced with electricity that is CO₂-neutral on the balance sheet, while the Group continues to drive forward efforts to promote battery charging with electricity from sustainable sources.

The Mercedes-Benz Group collates and publishes the key figures for the CO₂ emissions on corporate level based on the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol framework.

The Mercedes-Benz Group differentiates its greenhouse gas emissions according to three categories – the so-called Greenhouse Gas Scopes. Scope 1 includes all emissions that the company itself produces when it burns energy media at its production sites – for example, when it generates electricity and heat in the company’s own power plants. Scope 2 includes all emissions caused by external providers from whom energy is purchased in forms such as electricity and district heating. Scope 3 includes all the emissions that are generated before (upstream of) or after (downstream of) business operations. For example, Scope 3 includes the CO₂ emissions that arise in the supply chain (purchased goods and services), through the vehicles’ operation in customers’ hands (the use phase, including the production of fuel and electricity), and in the recycling phase of the vehicles.

The GHG Protocol specifies a total of 15 categories of Scope 3 emissions. The emissions are determined on the basis of comprehensive methodological considerations and complex calculations. The reported Scope 3 categories are selected after a review of relevance and data availability. At 78%, the majority of the Scope 3 emissions reported for the Mercedes-Benz Group occur in the utilisation phase, in other words during fuel and electricity production (well-to-tank) and the operation of its products (tank-to-wheel). Around 17% of indirect Scope 3 emissions are attributable to the supply chains that provide the company with goods and services.

The company determines the CO₂ emissions in the utilisation phase of Mercedes-Benz vehicles on the basis of its worldwide sales figures and the average, standardised CO₂ fleet value. An annual mileage of 20,000 km is assumed for each vehicle, for an assumed usage period of ten years. In total, the mileage therefore amounts to 200,000 km per vehicle.

Measures

An all-electric product range

The Mercedes-Benz Group’s goal is to accelerate the pace of expansion of its range of electric vehicles. Its commitment to research and development work is correspondingly great. Altogether, the Mercedes-Benz Group wants to invest more than €60 billion between 2022 and 2026 for the transformation towards an all-electric and software-driven future.

The Mercedes-Benz Group is convinced that the transformation of road transport will lead to the complete electrification of vehicles. However, there are still obstacles to be overcome that require efforts on the part of the business community: for example, the charging infrastructure must not be allowed to lag behind the demand. The growth rate of renewable energies may also be too slow. Moreover, the workforce must be trained in new software and drive technologies. Although all newly introduced vehicle architectures will be purely electric from 2025, plug-in hybrids and low-emission combustion engines still play an essential role and remain indispensable as a bridging technology.

EQ models: Future-oriented and battery-electric

Since 2018, Mercedes-Benz AG has been offering battery electric vehicles under the Mercedes-EQ brand. It is continuously expanding this brand’s portfolio through the addition of more models. During the reporting year, Mercedes-Benz reached an important strategic milestone and now offers an all-electric alternative for every segment in which Mercedes-Benz is active — i.e. the EQA and EQB for the compact segment, the EQC for the midrange segment and the EQE and EQS for the premium segment. In August 2022, the all-electric model range was expanded to include the EQS SUV. This was followed in mid-2022 by the staggered global market launch of the EQE business saloon. The EQE 350 (WLTP: combined electrical consumption: 18.8–16.0 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) has an output of up to 300 kW and a range¹ of up to 645 km (according to WLTP).

In addition, the company also reached another milestone with the market launch of the EQE SUV in October 2022: the modular drive concept enables the EQE SUV to offer a wide range of maximum total outputs from 215 to 300 kW. Depending on the vehicle equipment and configuration, the European vehicles achieve WLTP ranges¹ of up to 590 km.

Plug-in hybrids

Plug-in hybrids are an important transitional technology on the road to an all-electric future. Mercedes-Benz Cars offers an efficient drive-system package for this purpose: since 2021, customers have been able to choose between more than 20 model variants. This combination of an electric drive system and a combustion engine enables locally emission-free driving. The drive system, which consists of an electric motor and a high-voltage battery, can make all-electric operating ranges possible that are sufficient for most daily trips. In the compact segment, ranges of over 70 km (WLTP-TML), in the luxury segment sometimes over 100 km (WLTP-TML) are possible. Mercedes-Benz offers this technology for the entire vehicle portfolio – from the A- to the S-Class, from the GLA to the GLE.

Efficient vehicle concept

Efficient driving and charging reduces the life-cycle CO₂ footprint – and is therefore a key lever for achieving the climate protection targets of the Mercedes-Benz Group. For this reason, the company focuses right from the early development phase on making all its vehicle concepts energy-efficient and takes all relevant areas into account: aerodynamics, powertrain, rolling resistance, weight, thermal management and onboard power network.

It strives to achieve what is technically possible in the premium segment and consistently takes actual customer operation as a benchmark. With the VISION EQXX concept car, Mercedes-Benz provides a preview of what will be possible in the future in terms of efficiency and electric range. On its first journey in April 2022, the vehicle covered over 1000 km in real everyday traffic on a single battery charge. The drive took place with a sealed charging socket and was accompanied by an independent expert from TÜV SÜD. The technical findings are being incorporated into the series development. The EQS also enables energy-efficient driving with a C_d value of 0.20 – especially at higher speeds.

Mercedes-Benz Vans

Mercedes-Benz Vans is also setting the course for an all-electric future: Mercedes-Benz Vans is developing a fundamentally new, modular and purely electric vehicle architecture for this purpose, under the name VAN.EA. This means that from 2025, all newly developed vans will be exclusively electric.

Mercedes-Benz is convinced of the ecological and economic advantages of all-electric vans and has firmly anchored its claim to leadership in electric mobility in its strategy. As a result, all of its model series are to be systematically electrified. Even today, body manufacturers and customers can already choose from a number of battery electric vans for both commercial and private use. These include the eVito panel van and eVito Tourer, the eSprinter and the EQV. From 2023, it is planned that they will be joined by the eCitan and EQT (WLTP: combined electrical consumption: 18.99 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km).¹

The new eSprinter

Mercedes-Benz Vans is also consistently implementing its strategy with the new eSprinter, underlining its claim to “Lead in Electric Drive”. The features of this model series were defined in close collaboration with the customers: three battery and several body variants – from panel vans to chassis for box bodies – will enable the new eSprinter to penetrate into new customer segments and markets, including the USA and Canada. Depending on the configuration, the range can be extended to more than twice that of the current eSprinter. Production is scheduled to ramp up in stages in Charleston (South Carolina/USA), Düsseldorf and Ludwigsfelde (Germany), beginning in the second half of 2023. Mercedes-Benz AG has invested around €350 million in the new eSprinter, which is to be produced in a CO₂-neutral on the balance sheet manner.

Sustainability and climate protection in urban delivery transport

Just how ecological a van can be is demonstrated by the Mercedes-Benz Vans business unit with its SUSTAINEER technology platform: based on a Mercedes-Benz eSprinter, SUSTAINEER combines many innovations that improve the quality of life in cities, protect the climate and the environment and enhance the safety and health of drivers and other road users. Among other things, the all-electric van has a roof-mounted solar panel that generates green electricity for the vehicle. The SUSTAINEER is equipped with intelligent software and communication solutions that allow efficient route planning in real time. This reduces not only the distances driven, but also the energy consumption.

Charging infrastructure and digital charging services

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The Mercedes-Benz Group has set itself the goal of contributing to the electrification of individual mobility worldwide. In the Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans divisions, the company is therefore continuously working on private and commercial charging solutions for the home, the workplace and public spaces. The ultimate goal is to offer customers the best charging experience in the industry in terms of reliability, convenience, sustainability and value retention.

Green charging with Mercedes me Charge

To offer its customers convenient and green charging, the Mercedes-Benz Group relies on a strong digital ecosystem including vehicle integration and innovative partnerships.

The Mercedes me Charge digital charging service offers the company’s customers access to one of the largest charging networks in the world. Mercedes me Charge is growing. At the end of 2022, more than 1,000,000 AC and DC charging points had been integrated around the world, including more than 350,000 in Europe. In Europe alone, there are over 850 different operators of public charging stations to whose charging points Mercedes me Charge customers have access.

In addition to making charging as easy and convenient as possible for customers, Mercedes me Charge also enables green electricity to be charged at public charging points in Europe, the USA and Canada. Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) ensure that the corresponding amount of green energy is fed into the grid after each charging process. This green electricity bears the EKOenergie eco-label and is provided by certified energy generation plants.

Green electricity, in other words electricity from renewable energy sources, is a significant factor in the life cycle of an electric car in order to avoid CO₂ emissions. This is because around 50% of the CO₂ footprint of a battery electric vehicle – given the current EU electricity mix – is generated in the use phase, in charging processes that generate CO₂. But whether a public charging point draws green power or power from non-renewable sources is often not known. The supply of the charging current is the responsibility of the charging point’s operator. To counteract this lack of transparency and promote the use of electricity from renewable sources, the Mercedes-Benz Group has made green charging an integral part of Mercedes me Charge.

In addition, green charging creates incentives for investments in further renewable energy plants. Moreover, the system shows how the respective charging behaviour affects the personal CO₂ footprint. The Mercedes-Benz Group was the first automobile manufacturer to offer this service. The public response to green charging is positive. Since the market launch in Europe in March 2021, the monthly green charging volume has increased steadily.

Creation of own global high-power charging network

The Mercedes-Benz Group has announced far-reaching plans for the creation of a global high-power charging network in North America, Europe, China and other key markets. Construction of the first charging park will begin in 2023. The aim is to have put in place the complete network of more than 2000 charging hubs, with more than 10,000 charging points, by 2027. In the USA, the company is planning more than 400 charging hubs with more than 2500 charging points. The network is explicitly designed to be available to compatible vehicles of any brand, with the ambition of encouraging the rapid expansion of electric mobility on a global basis.

In accordance with its sustainable corporate strategy “Ambition 2039”, the Mercedes-Benz Group wants to make it possible for its customers to charge their vehicles using green electricity. This will be achieved primarily by means of green energy supply contracts or through the use of Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) from accredited issuers. Certain Mercedes-Benz charging stations will also include photovoltaic systems designed to meet the electricity requirements for lighting, video monitoring and suchlike.

Expansion of the IONITY fast-charging network

Within the scope of the IONITY joint venture, Mercedes-Benz AG is working to create a high-performance fast-charging network for electric vehicles in Europe. IONITY aims to safeguard private electric mobility by means of a standardised charging network along the most important pan-European motorways with the intention of speeding up the adoption of electric mobility within the market.

At the end of 2022, over 450 IONITY fast-charging locations or “charging parks” were in operation. Each charging park has several charging points, all of which are powered entirely by green electricity. The high charging power of up to 350 kW per charging point enables correspondingly designed vehicles to charge their batteries quickly. The more than 2000 charging points of IONITY are integrated into Mercedes me Charge and can be conveniently used via Plug & Charge.

The number of IONITY fast-charging stations is expected to more than quadruple across Europe and grow to around 7000 charging points at more than 1000 locations by 2025. These will in future also be found along major roads and near urban centres. Some locations will also have innovative flagship concepts for making travel more convenient and improving the charging experience. To realise this growth strategy, the existing shareholders and BlackRock as a new shareholder are investing €700 million.

Flexible charging system for EQ models and plug-in hybrids

The Mercedes-Benz Group offers a flexible charging system for private and public charging. Charging at up to 22 kW is possible via various adapters. The system is also compatible with all battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids that have a type 2 connection.

Intelligent charging with the networked Mercedes-Benz Wallbox

The new Mercedes-Benz Wallbox charges electric cars and plug-in hybrids quickly, intelligently and conveniently. It is designed for up to 22 kW.² As it is technically preconfigured for remote functions, customers are for the first time optionally able to start and stop charging processes via the Mercedes me App³, monitor the present state of charge and view the charging history. In addition, the Mercedes-Benz Wallbox now has an integrated energy meter. Furthermore, it is technically possible to receive software updates “over-the-air” via the customer’s own internet connection in the future.⁴ This makes the Wallbox particularly future-proof.

Charging infrastructure expanded at own locations

Mercedes-Benz AG is also continuously driving forward the expansion of the charging infrastructure at its own locations: since 2013, it has put more than 6000 charging points into operation. At the end of 2022, comprehensive charging solutions were available to employees. The company also plans to install more charging points in 2023. In addition, over 2500 of the Mercedes-Benz charging points at the company’s own locations will also be available to the public from the end of 2022.

With the “charge@Mercedes-Benz” project, since 2013, the company has been bundling its activities for the development of an intelligent charging infrastructure for all company-owned properties in Germany. Mercedes-Benz AG not only equips car parks, multi-storey car parks and customer centres, but also its internal development test facilities and test sites. The charging points of Mercedes-Benz AG are supplied with 100% certified green electricity.

Services

A large proportion of the CO₂ emissions from cars with combustion engines is generated during driving. The Mercedes-Benz Group would therefore like to support the users of its vehicles in adopting a climate-friendly driving style and in making purchasing decisions in favour of locally emission-free vehicles. To this end, it offers a wide range of service solutions.

Facilitating the switch to battery-electric vehicles

Mercedes-Benz Mobility supports the transformation towards electric mobility with the Green Mapping concept: since the end of 2020, customers who have leased or financed their Mercedes through Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG can switch from a combustion engine to a hybrid or electric vehicle for the same monthly instalment.

App facilitates decision for e-mobility

Is an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid right for my day-to-day life? The Mercedes-Benz “Electric Ready App” supports drivers in determining whether a switch would be practicable by analysing individual driving behaviour. To do this, it uses the principle of gamification: the users receive a lot of useful information relating to electric mobility presented in an entertaining manner as part of a seven-day challenge. In addition to data about their potential energy requirements, users can simulate the duration of different charging solutions in real time and view the various regional charging infrastructures. The app has been available in around 29 countries worldwide since 2020. So far, it has evaluated just under 2.5 million trips for its users, which is an average of 24 trips per week.

The Mercedes-Benz “Electric Ready App” offers corresponding additional functions specifically for commercial users: among other things, they can be used to check whether the routes driven could also be covered with an electric Mercedes-Benz van; the app also takes various loads and the resulting vehicle weight into account. The “eCost Calculator” calculates whether an electric Mercedes-Benz van would be a good option from a financial standpoint. It provides information that makes it possible to compare the annual operating costs of a van with a combustion engine with those of an electrically powered Mercedes-Benz van. With regard to the charging infrastructure, Mercedes-Benz Vans also analyses the local conditions together with the interested parties with the help of the “eCharging Planner”. This shows what measures are necessary for the efficient operation of individual vehicles, or of smaller or larger fleets.

Furthermore, a range simulator, a charging time calculator and an e-route planner can be used via the Mercedes-Benz Group website.

App collects data about individual fuel consumption

The Mercedes-Benz Group offers transparent information and comparison options on the fuel consumption of its vehicles in Europe: since 2020, customers can voluntarily share their individual fuel consumption anonymously and compare it with users of similar vehicles via the free Mercedes me app for almost all model series. This information is also available on the company’s website. Since 2022, visitors to the website can select a vehicle themselves and view the consumption curve of all journeys.

Data show that individual fuel consumption can be both below and above the WLTP certification value. Deviations compared to the WLTP cycle can be caused by numerous factors such as road conditions, load, weather conditions, but especially by the individual driving style.

Saving energy with the Eco Coach

Since the end of 2020, the Mercedes-Benz Group has offered customers of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles an app with individual energy-saving tips: the Mercedes me Eco Coach analyses personal driving and charging behaviour and provides personalised tips on how to reduce the CO₂ footprint and increase the longevity of the vehicle battery. The app is now available in ten European markets.

For each activity and participation in various challenges, points are awarded that can be redeemed for CO₂ compensation or converted into Mercedes me Charge charging vouchers.

More environmentally friendly batteries

Range, performance, charging time: the battery is the centrepiece of an electric vehicle. As part of its holistic battery strategy, the Mercedes-Benz Group is pursuing the goal of bringing ever more economical, powerful and environmentally compatible battery systems to market. To this end, the Mercedes-Benz Group together with its partners is focusing on battery cells and modules produced on a CO₂-neutral on the balance sheet basis.

To promote local battery production and reduce transport distances, Mercedes-Benz AG has acquired shares in the European battery cell manufacturer Automotive Cells Company (ACC). From 2025, this will supply Mercedes-Benz with high-performance battery cells and modules. ACC plans to more than double the capacity of its European plants as part of its cooperation with Mercedes-Benz.

In addition, Mercedes-Benz and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co, Limited (CATL) announced in August 2022 that they would expand the existing battery cell partnership: the new CATL plant in Debrecen, Hungary operates on a CO₂-neutral on the balance sheet basis and supplies battery cells for European production locations in Germany and Hungary.

At the same time, the company also relies on other strong cooperations with the aim of jointly developing advanced battery technologies – from cells and modules to integration into the vehicle battery. Among other things, it is working with partners to increase the energy density of lithium-ion batteries by using high-silicon anodes or lithium anodes in combination with solid-state technology.

The Mercedes-Benz Group is stepping up its research and development activities in order to bring new technologies into series production as early as possible: among other things, it is setting up a competence centre for cell technology in Untertürkheim – materials and cells can be technologically evaluated there in the future. The "Mercedes-Benz eCampus” will gradually take up operation from 2023. This also means that a near-series plant for the small-scale production of battery cells will be available at the start.

Effectiveness and results

Effectiveness of the management approach

The Mercedes-Benz Group’s management approach to climate protection is based on the "Ambition 2039" targets. The company has also defined the measures it will use to achieve these goals. The Mercedes-Benz Group evaluates their effectiveness on the basis of internal and external performance assessments: internally, the company conducts audits at the departmental level several times a year for this purpose. Externally, it has selected goals and measures audited by an auditing company.

The Mercedes-Benz Group also engages in dialogues on the topic of climate protection and uses the insights gained to review and, if necessary, adapt its management approach. For example, the company maintains an intensive exchange with environmental institutes and non-governmental organisations at its annual “Sustainability Dialogue”. In addition, the topic of climate protection is an integral part of regular Board of Management meetings; current developments are discussed with the Advisory Board for Integrity and Sustainability. Politicians, the general public and other stakeholders of the Mercedes-Benz Group also provide the company with regular feedback on how the company’s own sustainability goals are perceived and assessed.

Results

Alternative drive systems

Electrified vehicles (xEV) at Mercedes-Benz Cars accounted for 16% of the Group’s worldwide unit sales in the year under review. Battery electric models accounted for 4% of unit sales at Mercedes-Benz Vans.

Calculation of CO₂ emissions

For the entire life cycle of the Mercedes-Benz Cars fleet and the Mercedes-Benz Vans fleet worldwide, Mercedes-Benz has calculated emissions in accordance with the requirements of the Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard 2004 of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Initiative.

This resulted in an average CO₂ value of 47.9 t per vehicle for Mercedes-Benz Cars for the year 2022, and an average CO₂ value of 62.7 t per vehicle for Mercedes-Benz Vans. 52.2 t is accounted for by the use phase, which is dominated by commercial goods transport with vans in the 3.5 t-5 t segment.

Scope 1, 2 and selected Scope 3 CO₂ emissions in t per vehicle, Mercedes-Benz Cars 2022^{1, 7}

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Scope 1, 2 and selected Scope 3 CO₂ emissions in t per vehicle, Mercedes-Benz Vans 2022^{1, 7}

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Life cycle assessment of the EQE 350+

Development of CO₂ emissions in Europe

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The Mercedes-Benz Group has defined the CO₂ emissions of its total new passenger car fleet in Europe as one of its significant non-financial performance indicators. For more information on how it expects the CO₂ emissions of its car fleet in Europe to develop in 2023, see the Outlook chapter in the annual report.

Forecast, AR 2022

In the reporting year, the average CO₂ emissions of the Mercedes-Benz passenger new car fleet in Europe (European Union, Norway and Iceland), applying the statutory regulations, are expected to amount to 115 g/km (including vans registered as passenger cars) and were thus at the same level as in the previous year. This means that the figures for Mercedes-Benz achieved the CO₂ targets in Europe in 2022.

Development of the average CO₂ emissions of the Mercedes-Benz passenger car fleet in Europe

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For 2023, the company expects that the Mercedes-Benz fleet average in Europe (European Union, Norway and Iceland) will continue to fall. This development is particularly favoured by the continuing increase in sales of all-electric and plug-in vehicles as a proportion of total passenger car sales.

In the reporting year, the average CO₂ emissions of vehicle category N1 light trucks in Europe (European Union, Norway and Iceland) as measured on the basis of the legal regulations are expected to amount to 209 g/km. This means that the figures for Mercedes-Benz will be below the CO₂ target. 

Development of CO₂ emissions in the USA

Development of the average CO₂ emissions of the Mercedes-Benz van fleet in Europe

Mercedes-Benz GHG values for passenger cars and light duty trucks in the USA

In the United States, fleet values are regulated by two separate federal standards for limiting greenhouse gases and fuel consumption in vehicle fleets: the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG) and the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard. For the 2022 model year, the GHG fleet figure is 244 g CO₂/mi for the car fleet and 289 g CO₂/mi for the fleet of vans and SUVs registered as light trucks (on the basis of the most recent forecast). Because the portfolio of electrified vehicles (xEV) in the United States is still in an early stage of development, the Mercedes-Benz Group was not able to achieve its average fleet targets of 195 g CO₂/mi for the car fleet and 256 g CO₂/mi for the fleet of vans and SUVs registered as light trucks. However, the Mercedes-Benz Group was able to offset the remaining difference through the purchase of external credits. 

The models of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter are subject to the GHG regulation for Classes 2b/3. The CO₂ targets in these classes depend on the payload, the towing capacity and the drive type of the vehicles. Data on CO₂ emissions from Mercedes-Benz vehicles were not yet available at the time of publication of this report.

Development of CO₂ emissions in China

Mercedes-Benz fleet consumption passenger cars in China

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In China, domestic and imported cars are reported separately and according to fleet consumption values, unlike in Europe and the United States. This means the figures for the imported fleet are the relevant figures for our wholly owned subsidiary Mercedes-Benz China (MBCL). The target was 7.01 l/100 km; the figure that was actually achieved was 8,33 l/100 km (8.17 l/100 km including off-cycle technologies). MBCL plans to purchase external credits in order to close consumption gaps in the fleet’s target achievement at short notice. 

The aim of the Mercedes-Benz Group with regard to the portfolio expansion for all-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids is to achieve the emission targets in China in the medium term, together with the joint-venture partner Beijing Benz Automotive (BBAC). 

The V-Class and Vito models are produced by the joint venture Fujian Benz Automotive Co., Ltd. (FBAC) and constitute a local fleet (domestic). A value of 9.29 l/100 km was achieved (without off-cycle technology); the target value is 7.9 l/100 km. At present, the fleet balance can be offset by means of a credit transfer. This situation is not likely to change until 2026, because the fleet consists of only a single vehicle model.

Legal limits on the fuel consumption and/or CO₂ emissions of car fleets and light truck fleets also exist in many other markets, although the target values differ from market to market. This concerns major sales markets for Mercedes-Benz products such as Switzerland, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, India and Saudi Arabia. The Mercedes-Benz Group also takes these target values into account in the further development of its portfolio.

1 Electric energy consumption and range were determined on the basis of Regulation (EU) 2017/1151

2 Depending on the manufacturer and vehicle, 22 kW charging may require the “Alternating current charging system (AC charging 22 kW)" as optional equipment. If this is not the case, the vehicle is automatically charged with the optimum output at the Wallbox. The maximum charging capacity of the charging station must suit the physical installation (cable diameter and overload protection

3 To use the remote functions of the Mercedes-Benz Wallbox and receive over-the-air updates, the Mercedes me App, a personal Mercedes me ID and consent to the Terms of Use for the Mercedes me connect services are necessary.

4 To receive the “over-the-air” updates, customers must agree to the respective update in the Mercedes me App or give general consent in the Mercedes me App to receive all future updates