Business

Mercedes-Benz to axe more than 1,000 jobs in cost-cutting drive

Move blamed on heavy cost of investing in electric vehicles just as traditional car sales slow

Carmakers are on the verge of a key period in the transition away from reliance on fossil fuels, with strict rules on carbon dioxide emissions coming into force next year. Photograph: EPA

Thu Nov 14 2019 - 10:11

Mercedes-Benz plans to save €1.65 billion by cutting more than 1,000 jobs in the latest sign German carmakers are struggling to make big investments in electric car technology.

Carmakers around the world are spending billions on developing battery-powered electric vehicles but at the same time sales of internal combustion engines are slowing in the face of economic weakness and scandals over emissions.

Mercedes-Benz's premium cars division will bear the bulk of the job cuts, its parent company, Daimler, said on Thursday, with cuts of €1 billion from its wage bill expected by 2022. Management and contractors will be particularly affected, while the vans and trucks divisions will together cut €650 million in staff and other costs.

Daimler said it would cap investment in property, plant and equipment and in research and development at current levels, with plans in place to reduce investment in the medium term.

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Carmakers are on the verge of a key period in the transition away from reliance on fossil fuels, with strict rules on carbon dioxide emissions coming into force on January 1st.

Manufacturers will face heavy fines if the average emissions of cars sold in the EU are above 95g of CO2 per kilometre.

Ola Källenius, the chair of Daimler’s board, said: “The expenditure needed to achieve the CO2 targets requires comprehensive measures to increase efficiency in all areas of our company. This also includes streamlining our processes and structures.

“This will have a negative impact on our earnings in 2020 and 2021. To remain successful in the future, we must therefore act now and significantly increase our financial strength.”

Shares down

Daimler shares fell by 3 per cent in early trading on Wednesday, to €51.97. It made earnings before tax of €10.6 billion in 2018 but has given repeated profit warnings during 2019 and analysts forecast earnings before tax of about €6.3 billion for 2019, according to average estimates from S&P Global Market Intelligence.

As well as the global race for electrification, Daimler faces the prospect of further legal costs in relation to alleged breaches of emissions regulations. The scandal over diesel emissions cheating technology has also dented rival German carmaker Volkswagen. – Guardian service

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