Mercedes-Benz and Geely to co-operate on new petrol engines

Four-cylinder production set to be moved to China as part of expanded partnership Mercedes-Benz is planning to shift the majority of its four-cylinder petrol engine production to China in a move that will greatly expand its activities with Chinese car maker Geely . The deal will mean the parent companies of Mercedes-Benz and Geely, Daimler and Geely Holdings, will assume much closer technical ties. The two companies plan to jointly develop and produce a new family of four-cylinder petrol engines to be used in future hybrid models from both companies at a factory in China from 2024, according to information obtained by Germany’s Handelsblatt newspaper. A spokesperson from Daimler is quoted as saying: “The company plans the development of a highly efficient modular engine suitable for use in next-generation hybrid models and production in Europe and China.” Mercedes-Benz is yet to indicate how many engines it plans to produce in China, although the suggestions are that it will be in t ▶ Full story on autocar.co.uk