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.”

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