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Mercedes-Benz Group AG

Luxury automotiveFounded 1926
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026

Acquisitions

Mercedes-Benz Acquisitions

4

Major Deals Covered

$36.0B

Disclosed Deal Value

What are Mercedes-Benz's biggest acquisitions?

Mercedes-Benz's largest disclosed acquisition here is Chrysler Corporation for $36B in 1998. This page covers 4 major deals from 1998 to 2021, each with its price where disclosed and the reason behind it.

Major deals covered
4
Largest deal
Chrysler Corporation ($36B)
First deal
1998
Most recent
2021
CompanyYearPricePurpose
Chrysler Corporation1998$36.0BMercedes-Benz pursued the acquisition of Chrysler Corporation to create a global automotive group with stronger positions in Europe and North America. The deal was intended to combine German premium engineering with American manufacturing scale, dealer reach, and mass-market volume. Leadership believed the combined company could compete more effectively with the world's largest automakers.
AMG Motorenbau / Mercedes-AMG1999UndisclosedDaimlerChrysler took a controlling interest in AMG in 1999 and later moved to full ownership, bringing the independent performance engineering firm deeper inside the Mercedes-Benz product system. The strategic purpose was to control high-performance variants, protect pricing power, and turn AMG from an outside tuner into an official premium sub-brand.
Athlon Car Lease International2016UndisclosedDaimler Financial Services acquired Athlon from De Lage Landen, a Rabobank subsidiary, to expand in European fleet management and multi-brand leasing. The deal strengthened the company's ability to serve corporate mobility customers beyond traditional vehicle financing.
YASA2021UndisclosedMercedes-Benz acquired YASA, a UK-based axial-flux electric motor specialist, to secure high-performance electric drive technology for future AMG and electric platforms. The acquisition targeted power density, efficiency, and differentiation in a market where many EV powertrains risk feeling technically similar.
What companies has Mercedes-Benz bought?
Major acquisitions by Mercedes-Benz documented here include Chrysler Corporation (1998), YASA (2021), Athlon Car Lease International (2016) and AMG Motorenbau / Mercedes-AMG (1999).
What is Mercedes-Benz's most recent acquisition?
The most recent Mercedes-Benz acquisition documented here is YASA, in 2021.

YASA

2021

Why

Mercedes-Benz acquired YASA, a UK-based axial-flux electric motor specialist, to secure high-performance electric drive technology for future AMG and electric platforms. The acquisition targeted power density, efficiency, and differentiation in a market where many EV powertrains risk feeling technically similar.

Impact

YASA gave Mercedes-Benz proprietary access to a compact, high-power motor technology that can support electric performance vehicles. It also added specialist engineering talent in the United Kingdom while preserving YASA's brand, team, and facilities.

Outcome

The acquisition is promising but still being proven across large volumes. It supports AMG.EA and future electric performance work, yet its financial success depends on Mercedes-Benz converting advanced motor technology into profitable production vehicles.

Source →

Athlon Car Lease International

2016

Why

Daimler Financial Services acquired Athlon from De Lage Landen, a Rabobank subsidiary, to expand in European fleet management and multi-brand leasing. The deal strengthened the company's ability to serve corporate mobility customers beyond traditional vehicle financing.

Impact

Athlon expanded Mercedes-Benz's exposure to fleet services, leasing relationships, and corporate mobility management. It also reflected the company's belief that ownership models were changing and that financial services could deepen customer retention.

Outcome

Athlon broadened Mercedes-Benz's fleet-leasing business for about a decade. In December 2025 Mercedes-Benz entered exclusive talks to sell it to Arval, BNP Paribas' leasing arm, and the sale closed on 31 July 2026, reflecting the group's narrower focus on its own brands.

Source →

AMG Motorenbau / Mercedes-AMG

1999

Why

DaimlerChrysler took a controlling interest in AMG in 1999 and later moved to full ownership, bringing the independent performance engineering firm deeper inside the Mercedes-Benz product system. The strategic purpose was to control high-performance variants, protect pricing power, and turn AMG from an outside tuner into an official premium sub-brand.

Impact

AMG became one of Mercedes-Benz's most important margin and brand-image engines. It allowed the company to compete directly with BMW M, Audi Sport, Porsche, and performance EV challengers while charging premium prices across many model lines.

Outcome

The acquisition achieved its goal. By 2025, AMG remained a core Top-End pillar, with Mercedes-Benz reporting 145,000 AMG deliveries and continued investment in future AMG electric architecture.

Source →

Chrysler Corporation

1998

$36.0B

Why

Mercedes-Benz pursued the acquisition of Chrysler Corporation to create a global automotive group with stronger positions in Europe and North America. The deal was intended to combine German premium engineering with American manufacturing scale, dealer reach, and mass-market volume. Leadership believed the combined company could compete more effectively with the world's largest automakers.

Impact

The acquisition failed to deliver expected benefits because cultural differences, product positioning, cost structures, and management systems clashed. Chrysler's financial deterioration damaged the combined group's results and distracted management from the Mercedes-Benz premium business.

Outcome

Daimler sold Chrysler in 2007 at a major loss, turning the transaction into a cautionary example of strategic overreach. The failure ultimately sharpened Mercedes-Benz's later focus on premium vehicles, vans, finance, and brand-controlled economics.

Source →

Mercedes-Benz Group AG's Growth & Acquisition Strategy

Management is relying on a product offensive rather than volume growth: Mercedes calls 2025-2027 its largest-ever launch programme, built around the new electric CLA on the MMA platform, the electric GLC, refreshed S-Class and other core models, all running the in-house MB.OS operating system. In Q2 2026 Cars battery-electric sales rose 51%, and the company raised its 2026 electrified-vehicle share target to 23-25%. Alongside launches it is cutting costs (more than $3.95 billion (€3.5 billion) of savings at Cars in 2025), simplifying the portfolio (Athlon fleet leasing was sold to BNP Paribas' Arval in July 2026), and pushing productivity measures in Germany.

How Mercedes-Benz Group AG Makes Money

Mercedes-Benz makes money in three segments. Mercedes-Benz Cars, the largest by far, sells passenger vehicles grouped as Entry, Core (C-Class, E-Class, GLC, GLE) and Top-End (S-Class, Mercedes-Maybach, Mercedes-AMG, G-Class), with Top-End models carrying the highest margins. Mercedes-Benz Vans sells the Sprinter, Vito/V-Class and electric vans mostly to business customers and earned a 10.2% adjusted return on sales in 2025. Mercedes-Benz Financial Services funds retail loans, leases and fleet deals, keeping buyers inside the brand and generating interest and fee income (adjusted return on equity of 9.7% in 2025). Parts, service and digital features add after-sales revenue across the installed base.

Mercedes-Benz Acquisitions FAQ

How did Mercedes-Benz acquire and integrate high-performance tuner AMG?

Founded in 1967 by former Mercedes engineers Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher as an independent racing engine builder, AMG partnered officially with Daimler-Benz in 1990. Daimler acquired a 51% majority stake in 1999 and bought the remaining shares in 2005, turning Mercedes-AMG into its wholly owned high-performance leader.

Why did Mercedes-Benz acquire British electric motor pioneer YASA in 2021?

In July 2021, Mercedes-Benz acquired YASA, a spin-out from the University of Oxford pioneering ultra-high-performance axial-flux electric motors. YASA's axial-flux motors deliver four times the power density and half the weight of traditional radial motors, powering next-generation AMG.EA electric supercars.

What was the acquisition of Athlon Car Lease International in 2016?

In 2016, Daimler Financial Services acquired Athlon Car Lease International for a reported ~$1.24 billion (€1.1 billion) to expand in European fleet leasing. Mercedes-Benz later sold Athlon to Arval (BNP Paribas), with the deal closing on 31 July 2026.

What was the 1998 acquisition of Chrysler Corporation and its 2007 divestment?

In 1998, Daimler-Benz acquired Chrysler for $36 billion in the largest transatlantic industrial merger in history. However, severe platform incompatibility, brand dilution, and American market downturns caused large losses, leading Daimler to sell an 80% stake in Chrysler to private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management for $7.4 billion in 2007.

How did Mercedes-Benz acquire its equity stake in Aston Martin Lagonda?

Under a 2020 agreement, Mercedes-Benz supplied AMG engines and electrical and hybrid technology to Aston Martin in exchange for shares, with the option to raise its stake to up to 20%. Its percentage holding was later diluted by Aston Martin capital raises.

What is Mercedes-Benz's joint venture with BMW on FreeNow and ShareNow?

In 2019, Daimler and BMW merged their urban mobility services into the 'Your Now' joint venture (encompassing ShareNow car-sharing, FreeNow ride-hailing, and ChargeNow). In 2022, they sold ShareNow to Stellantis while continuing to collaborate on digital mobility and fast-charging infrastructure.

Why did Mercedes-Benz invest in solid-state battery pioneers Factorial and ProLogium?

Mercedes-Benz acquired strategic minority equity stakes and co-development joint agreements with solid-state battery innovators Factorial Energy (US) and ProLogium Technology (Taiwan) to test next-generation solid-state lithium-metal battery cells promising doubled range and rapid charging.

What is the Automotive Cells Company (ACC) battery joint venture?

Mercedes-Benz became an equal one-third shareholder alongside Stellantis and TotalEnergies/Saft in Automotive Cells Company (ACC), investing billions to build large battery gigafactories across France, Germany, and Italy to secure European battery cell sovereignty.

How did Mercedes-Benz acquire AMG?

AMG was originally founded in 1967 as an independent racing engine forge by former Mercedes engineers Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher in Großaspach. After decades of building dominant touring race cars and bespoke tuned Mercedes vehicles, Daimler-Benz acquired a 51% controlling stake in 1999, fully absorbing AMG in 2005. Today, Mercedes-AMG represents one of the most profitable performance divisions in the global automotive sector.

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Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.