Mercedes sets out carbon-neutral plan

German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz has outlined its Ambition 2039 strategy to offer a carbon-neutral future within 20 years.

The firm said the transformation to electric mobility would increase energy demand on the supply chain but plug-in hybrids and EVs “offers a clear advantage in terms of CO₂ emissions compared to conventional drives already today”.

It said that it was critical to assess the lifecycle of vehicles for a “realistic picture” and that Mercedes was doing work with the global supplier network to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the production phase.

The firm said climate-neutrality had been placed into contractual terms – and from 2039, by the latest, production materials that were carbon-neutral would only be allowed in Mercedes factories.

Additionally, it said that it would focus on carbon intensive processes such as battery cells, steel and aluminium, which accounts for 80% of the supply chain emissions for a full EV. Sustainable use of resources has also been implemented with the company aiming for a reduction in primary raw materials by 2030.

Markus Schäfer, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG, said: “Electric mobility and sustainability go hand in hand for Mercedes-Benz. With the electric EQS luxury sedan, which is already in the starting blocks for next year, we have already achieved important milestones in close cooperation with our partners – for example by purchasing CO₂ neutrally produced battery cells. We are consequently pursuing this path: When awarding contracts for our subsequent electric vehicle platform – Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA) for compact and medium-sized cars – we are already applying CO₂ as a key criterion for the first time consistently.”

Adding to these comments, Gunnar Guthenke, head of procurement at Mercedes, said: “Almost half of our approximately 2000 suppliers have signed an ‘Ambition Letter of Intent’ and are committed to supplying us with only CO₂ neutral parts in the future. These companies account for more than half of the annual purchasing volume of Mercedes-Benz AG. This is an important proof point on the way to achieving our climate goals: our supplier network has also recognised the signs of the times, and is following the transformation. We place an additional focus on particularly CO₂-intensive components and materials such as battery cells.”