When it comes to the giants of the automotive industry, Daimler AG (now Mercedes-Benz Group AG) invariably occupies one of the central places. This concern, whose history goes back more than a century, not only shaped the appearance of premium cars, but also changed its corporate structure many times. After the great division in 2021when the company split into Mercedes-Benz Group (cars and vans) and Daimler Truck (trucks and buses), the question is who owns Daimler AG today, has become even more relevant.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the current ownership structure, identify key shareholders, analyze the role of government and institutional investors, and assess how changes in ownership affect brand strategy. We will pay special attention hidden control mechanisms through cross-shareholdings with other auto giants - a practice common among German concerns, but rarely discussed openly.

1. Historical context: how the ownership of Daimler AG was formed

Roots Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG), based Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in 1890, go back to the era of the birth of the automobile industry. However, the modern ownership structure began to take shape much later:

  • 🔹 1926 - merger with Benz & Cie., education Daimler-Benz AG (a brand appeared Mercedes-Benz).
  • 🔹 1998 - megamerger with American Chrysler Corporation, education DaimlerChrysler AG (a failed experiment that ended in divorce in 2007).
  • 🔹 2007–2021 - a period of independent development under the name Daimler AG, with a focus on premium cars and commercial vehicles.
  • 🔹 2021 - division into Mercedes-Benz Group AG (passenger cars) and Daimler Truck Holding AG (trucks).

Each of these transformations radically changed the composition of shareholders. For example, after a divorce from Chrysler in 2007 75% shares remained with German investors, and the American side received monetary compensation. Today Mercedes-Benz Group (former Daimler AG) is a separate public company whose shares are traded on Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE) under the ticker MBG.DE.

📊 How do you feel about the division of Daimler AG into two companies?
Positively - this is a logical step
Negative - weakened the brand
Doesn't matter
I don't know what it was

2. Current ownership structure of the Mercedes-Benz Group (formerly Daimler AG)

After 2021 restructuring Mercedes-Benz Group AG became an independent company, but its shareholder base retained the features of the traditional German corporate governance model. Here are the key features:

  • 📊 Free Float (free float) - about 93% shares are in free circulation on the stock exchange.
  • 🏛️ Institutional investors own ~60% shares (pension funds, investment companies).
  • 👥 Private shareholders — ~20% (including company employees).
  • 🤝 Cross ownership — Mercedes-Benz holds stakes in other automakers (e.g. BAIC Motor in China).

It is important to understand that the practice is common in Germany " Deutschland AG " - networks of intertwined holdings between large companies. For example, Mercedes-Benz Group historically had close ties with Deutsche Bank, Allianz and even Volkswagen Group through the exchange of shares. Today these ties have weakened, but have not completely disappeared.

Shareholder type Share in % (2026) Examples of Key Players
Institutional investors ~60% BlackRock, Vanguard, Norges Bank (Norway)
Private investors (including employees) ~20% Shareholders through programs Mercedes-Benz Shares
State funds ~5% Kuwait Investment Authority, Qatar Investment Authority
Strategic partners ~10% BAIC Group (China), Geely (via will shares)
Company management <5% Board members, including CEO Olu Kallenius
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Largest single shareholder - Kuwait Investment Authority (State Fund of Kuwait) with a share of ~3%, but the real influence is exerted by the top 20 institutional investors, who collectively own more than 40% of the shares.

3. Key shareholders: who really runs the company?

Formally Mercedes-Benz Group is a public company, but in practice control is concentrated in the hands of a few giants. Here are the top 5 shareholders as of 2026 (data Bloomberg Terminal):

  1. BlackRock, Inc. (~7%) is the world's largest asset manager. Controls shares through subsidiary funds (iShares, BlackRock Fund Advisors).
  2. Vanguard Group (~5%) - the second largest investor, owns shares through ETF funds (Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund).
  3. Norges Bank Investment Management (~4%) - Norwegian state pension fund, one of the most transparent investors.
  4. Kuwait Investment Authority (~3%) - Kuwait's sovereign wealth fund, historically associated with Daimler since the 1970s.
  5. Dodge & Cox (~2%) is an American investment fund specializing in long-term investments.

Interesting fact: German state does not directly own shares Mercedes-Benz Group, but indirectly affects through:

  • 🏦 KfW Bankengruppe (state development bank), which finances the company's innovative projects.
  • 📜 Regulatory authorities (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht, BaFin), controlling transactions with shares.
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To track current shareholders Mercedes-Benz Group, use the services Bloomberg Terminal (paid) or free alternatives like Yahoo Finance (section "Holders"). Data is updated quarterly.

4. The role of the state and sovereign wealth funds: hidden influence

Although Mercedes-Benz Group - a private company, states play a significant role in its fate. Here are the key mechanisms of influence:

⚠️ Attention: Sovereign funds of the Middle East (Kuwait, Qatar) and China (SAFE Investment Company) own collectively ~8–10% shares Their goals often go beyond pure profit - access to technology, lobbying interests in markets, and even geopolitical influence.

Examples of government participation:

  • 🇨🇳 China (BAIC Group) — owns ~5% shares through subsidiaries. In return Mercedes-Benz gains access to the largest car market in the world.
  • 🇰🇼 Kuwait (Kuwait Investment Authority) — invested in Daimler back in the 1970s, when the company was experiencing financial difficulties. Today the share has decreased, but the influence remains.
  • 🇳🇴 Norway (Norges Bank) — invests pension savings of citizens, adhering to ESG criteria (ecology, social responsibility).

Germany influences indirectly:

  • Via legislation (for example, quotas for electric vehicles by 2030).
  • Via trade unions (IG Metall), who have weight on the board of directors.
  • Via land authorities Baden-Württemberg, where the headquarters is located in Stuttgart.

5. Cross-shareholding: how Daimler is connected to other auto giants

One of the most closed topics - mutual share ownership between automakers. This practice allows you to:

  • 🔄 Stabilize stock prices (large packages reduce volatility).
  • 🤫 Control competitors (for example, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz historically exchanged minority interests).
  • 🌍 Simplify joint projects (for example, with Geely on electric vehicles Smart).

Current connections Mercedes-Benz Group:

Partner company Communication type Share/investment
Geely (China) Joint venture Smart Automobile Geely owns 50% Smart, Mercedes — 50%
BAIC Group (China) Production Mercedes in China BAIC owns ~5% shares Mercedes-Benz Group
Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Technology partnership Exchange of patents for electric vehicles, no direct share ownership
Volkswagen Group Historical cross-ownership Shares reduced to minimal levels after 2010s
Why isn't Mercedes-Benz buying Tesla shares?

In 2019 Daimler sold his share in Tesla (~4%), acquired in 2009 for $50 million (then it was 10% of the company). The reason is a strategic pivot towards our own electric vehicles (EQ-series). Today Mercedes relies on its own developments, and not on a partnership with Elon Musk.

6. How changes in ownership affect brand strategy

A change in the shareholder structure directly affects the company's decisions. For example:

  • 🔋 Electrification: After leaving Kuwait Investment Authority from top 3 shareholders (2020) Mercedes-Benz accelerated the transition to electric vehicles - less pressure from oil-producing countries.
  • 🇨🇳 Chinese expansion: Partnership with BAIC and Geely allowed to increase sales in China to 40% of global volume (2023 data).
  • 🤖 Autonomous driving: Investments BlackRock and Vanguard aimed at development DRIVE PILOT (level 3 autopilot system).

There are also risks:

  • 📉 Pressure from ESG funds (for example, Norges Bank) forces the production of internal combustion engines to be reduced earlier than planned.
  • 🔄 Speculative attacks: Promotions Mercedes-Benz Group periodically become the target of hedge funds (for example, Elliott Management in 2019 demanded the division of the company).

Changing priorities from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles|Increasing investment in China|Sale of non-core assets (for example, a stake in Tesla)|Tightening ESG policy-->

7. How can an ordinary investor buy Mercedes-Benz Group shares?

If you are considering Mercedes-Benz Group as an investment object, here is a step-by-step algorithm:

  1. Choose a broker with access to Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE) or XETRA. Popular options:
    • 🏦 Interactive Brokers (for experienced investors).
    • 📱 eToro or Revolut (for beginners).
    • 🇷🇺 Tinkoff Investments or VTB My Investments (for residents of the Russian Federation).
  2. Study the ticker: Shares trade under ticker symbol MBG.DE (Frankfurt) or MBGYY (OTC in the US).
  3. Analyze financial indicators:
    • 📈 P/E (price to earnings ratio) - ~6–8 (2026).
    • 💰 Dividend yield — ~5–7% (one of the highest in the auto sector).
    • 📊 Debt load — ~1.2x EBITDA (moderate level).
  • Assess the risks:
    ⚠️ Attention: Promotions Mercedes-Benz Group sensitive to:
    • 🔌 The pace of transition to electric vehicles (competition with Tesla and Chinese brands).
    • 🇨🇳 Geopolitical risks in China (25% of the company’s sales come from this market).
    • 💶 Euro exchange rate (main reporting currency).

    • For long-term investment analytics (Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs) give the stock a "Hold" or "Moderate Buy"with target price €70–85 per share (for 2026).

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the owners of Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group)

    1. Is it true that Mercedes-Benz is owned by China?

    No, it's a myth. Chinese companies (BAIC Group, Geely) own collectively ~7–10% shares, but the controlling stake (~60%) belongs to Western institutional investors (BlackRock, Vanguard). However, China is a key market for Mercedes, and his influence is growing.

    2. Can Mercedes-Benz be called a German company if the shares are owned by foreigners?

    Formally yes. The headquarters is located in Stuttgart (Germany), the main production facilities are in Europe, and key decisions are made by German management. However, global investors (especially from the US and the Middle East) have a significant influence on strategy.

    3. Who was the last private owner of Daimler AG?

    The last private owner with a controlling interest was Jurgen Schrempp (CEO 1995–2005), but he represented the interests of the company and was not the sole owner. Since the 1990s Daimler - a public company without a dominant private shareholder.

    4. Why did Daimler split into the Mercedes-Benz Group and Daimler Truck?

    Main reasons:

    • 📉 Falling profits in the truck sector (competition with Volvo, Scania).
    • 🔋 Different paces of electrification: Passenger cars are switching to batteries faster than trucks.
    • 💹 Increase in capitalization: two specialized companies are valued by the market higher than one diversified one.

    The division took place in December 2021.

    5. Where can I check the current list of shareholders of the Mercedes-Benz Group?

    Official sources:

    Data is updated quarterly.