Mercedes-Benz sells 47 fast-charging stations to Electra, Digi Mart USA News: Mercedes-Benz no longer wants to operate its own fast-charging network in Europe. According to a report by the German business daily Handelsblatt on Tuesday, November 3, the German carmaker has agreed to sell its 47 stations to the French operator Electra.
The stations represent 374 charging points, with 31 stations in Germany and six in Austria. The transaction amount was not disclosed.
The decision contrasts with the ambitions Mercedes announced in early 2023. At the time, the brand said it wanted to install more than 10,000 fast-charging points worldwide by 2030, across roughly 2,000 sites.
Europe was to host 2,000 of them, with priority deployment in Germany and France. The project was expected to represent an investment of more than one billion euros globally.
Three and a half years later, the European results are far from those initial goals. With only 374 charging points included in the sale, Mercedes will have achieved just a fraction of its ambitions on the continent.
The carmaker had envisioned premium stations open to all brands but offering certain advantages to owners of Mercedes electric vehicles.
Mercedes justifies the decision by pointing to changes in the charging market. Responding to Handelsblatt, the company noted that many operators have developed their infrastructure and improved their services in recent years.
In this context, it says it regularly reassesses its investments in order to concentrate resources where they deliver the most value.
Behind this explanation lies the economic question. Building and operating a fast-charging network requires significant investment, from land acquisition to electrical connection, not to mention maintenance.
Mercedes is going through a difficult period marked by declining sales and profits. The sale of its European stations therefore fits into a strategy of spending control, although the carmaker does not officially present the operation as a cost-cutting measure.
The reversal also raises a question that French outlet L’Automobile Magazine already posed in March 2023 when the project was announced: why did Mercedes want to develop its own chargers when it was already part of the Ionity network? The carmaker had aimed to offer a more premium charging experience to its customers.
It now appears to favor partnerships with specialists. It is not giving up on making charging easier for its electric vehicles, but is abandoning direct operation of its infrastructure in Europe.
For Electra, the acquisition quickly strengthens its European presence, particularly in Germany. The French operator, which previously had 50 stations in Germany, gains 31 more.
Its German network thus rises to 81 stations, a 62% increase in a single transaction. The six Austrian stations and the other ten European sites also complement its network.
The deal is accompanied by a strengthened commercial partnership between the two companies. Mercedes drivers will be able to access the Electra network through MB.CHARGE Public, with preferential rates, integration into in-vehicle services, and the option to reserve certain compatible chargers.
Electra now claims more than 800 stations and 5,000 charging points across ten European countries.
The French operator does not plan to stop there. It intends to invest 200 million euros in Germany in 2027 and aims to reach 15,000 fast-charging points in Europe by 2030.
