Gasgoo Munich-Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz AG, said the internal combustion engine will likely persist for "at least another 10 years, if not 15." He characterized the shift to electric mobility as a 20-to-25-year industrial transformation, rather than an abrupt end in 2030 or 2035.
Image Credit: Mercedes-Benz
Källenius is tying the engine's survival directly to customer demand. As long as the market continues to show "meaningful demand" for high-tech internal combustion powertrains, Mercedes will keep supplying them. The company has not set a fixed exit date for the technology, anchoring its future instead on market conditions.
This assessment aligns with Mercedes' official strategy. The automaker plans to flexibly offer both pure electric drives and high-tech internal combustion engines "well into the 2030s," with the pace of transition determined by market conditions, infrastructure, and customer needs.
On the product front, reports suggest Mercedes is advancing a plan to launch 40 models over three years, covering both battery-electric and internal combustion powertrains. Additionally, the company continues to invest in its engine lineup to meet upcoming Euro 7 standards.
