(Yicai) Sept. 5 -- Mercedes-Benz Group said it plans to jointly invest more than CNY14 billion (USD2 billion) with its partners in China to gradually launch passenger car and light commercial vehicle models that are exclusive to the country.

Starting from next year, the German auto giant will make a new all-electric, long wheelbase CLA model tailored to Chinese customers, a new long wheelbase GLE sport utility vehicle developed by its China team, and a new luxury all-electric MPV based on its VAN.EA platform, it said today.

The long wheelbase GLE SUV will be the first model mainly developed by the Chinese team, offering China-exclusive comfort features and advanced intelligent technologies, the Stuttgart-based company said.

The new investment reflects the increasing importance of the Chinese auto market, the world’s largest, in Mercedes-Benz’s global strategy, particularly in the fields of electrification, smart connected cars, and the integration of advanced technologies. From 2014 to last year, Mercedes-Benz and its partners invested more than CNY100 billion (USD13.7 billion) in China.

China is a key pillar of Mercedes-Benz's global strategy and a crucial driver of its electrification and technology innovations, said Chairman Ola Källenius. The carmaker is committed to long-term investment in the country and actively participating in upgrading its auto industry, he added.

Mercedes-Benz's strategic transformation, advanced technological innovations, and latest flagship products in China will continue to be implemented at "China speed," according to the company. With the new investment, the carmaker will deepen its presence in high-end manufacturing, new energy vehicles, intelligent connected vehicles, and related supply chains in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Fujian regions, bringing new momentum to the local economies, it added.

In addition, the Mercedes-Benz Operating System, or MB.OS, will debut next year with the new MMA platform models, offering a new MBUX Virtual Assistant powered by three-dimensional graphics technology and large language models, as well as the luxury brand's first imageless end-to-end full-scenario intelligent driving system, the company said.

Mercedes-Benz partnered with Chinese state-owned auto giant BAIC Group to set up a passenger car joint venture in 2005 and with Fujian Motors Group to form a commercial vehicle JV in 2007. BAIC acquired a 35 percent stake in Fujian Benz from Fujian Motor Industry Group to become its second-largest shareholder in 2016.

Mercedes-Benz's research and development operations in China, which started in 2005, have included over 2,000 experts. The firm has invested CNY10.5 billion (USD1.4 billion) in related activities in the country over the past five years, with its new CNY69 million (USD9.5 million) R&D center in Shanghai going live in April.

Editor: Martin Kadiev