Global Autos Daily: The Morning News

Research evidence excerpt

Global Autos Daily: The Morning News

Deutsche Bank

Research

Europe Strategy Date

16 July 2026

Global Autos Daily Market Update

The Morning News

Tim Rokossa

Mercedes, VW, Tesla & Lear Q2 previews, Germany Head of European Equity Research

Schnappschuss - The AI chips, Europe Blog - Banks’

competitiveness, US Economic Perspectives - The Beige Christoph Laskawi

Research Analyst

Book through an AI lens, US Economic Notes - June

inflation, Thematic Research - Most uncertain decade, Nicolai Kempf

Commodities Outlook - Bright side Research Analyst

Edison Yu

INVITES: Truck'n'Roll - Truck IAA Field trip (9/15-16) Research Analyst

Bin Wang

Mercedes-Benz Group - Postcard from Mercedes’ largest plant in Europe + Q2 Research Analyst

preview (Rokossa)

Nikita Papaccio

We attended Mercedes' event for its recent plant expansion in Hungary, which

doubles its production capacity, highlighting the growing role of best-cost

manufacturing locations within Mercedes' European production footprint. During Winnie Dong

the event, management highlighted a significant 70% cost differential between Research Analyst

Hungary and Germany, primarily attributable to labor costs. With a rising BEV share Laura Li

(Q2-26: 13%) and the associated margin dilution, the company needs to reduce Research Associate

production costs to offset higher product costs until margin parity between BEVs James Mulholland, CFA

and ICE vehicles is achieved towards the end of the decade. This should be Research Associate

supported by increasing the utilisation of best-cost countries such as Hungary. The

Wei Huang

increasing localisation of production also aligns with broader industry efforts to

Research Associate

reduce supply chain complexity and mitigate trade-related risks. (See details here)

Mira Wiegratz