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Auto Blog
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Mercedes-AMG One Catches Fire Again, Raises Safety Questions
$3M Mercedes-AMG One Catches Fire in Viral Video Priced at close to $3 million and limited to a planned 275 units, the Mercedes-AMG One hybrid hypercar is as exclusive as it gets, which is why the mere thought of one being damaged or lost is traumatic. Unfortunately, a new video has surfaced online of an AMG One burning to the ground. The clip was shared by user Chrimbu on social media, but no details were provided as to exactly where or how the blaze started. The fire does not appear to have been caused by an accident, though, which suggests the car unexpectedly caught alight. Complex Hybrid Powertrain To Blame? The extensively electrified powertrain of the AMG One isn't going to reduce the intensity of a fire. Besides the 1.6-liter turbocharged V6 engine, the One also features four electric motors and an 8.4-kWh lithium-ion battery. When exposed to extreme temperatures, lithium-ion batteries can result in thermal runaway. According to UL Research Institutes, this process causes the lithium-ion cell to enter a self-heating state that is difficult to stop. Furthermore, it makes it more challenging to extinguish such a fire. There's no way of knowing if the AMG One's powertrain caused the fire we see here, but it's likely that the battery and associated components further fueled the flames. When it's not lighting up the sky, the AMG One's performance is pretty hot, with the hypercar capable of a 0-62 mph sprint time of 2.9 seconds. It will reach around 218 mph, too. Not The First AMG One To Catch Alight Almost exactly two years ago, The Sun reported on another AMG One that was burned to a crisp. Allegedly, this one was being towed in Staffordshire, England, when it burst into flames. The fact that the car was switched off and being towed at the time makes this an especially bizarre event. 'We are aware of this incident involving a car that was being transported in a closed trailer as part of its assembly process,' said a spokesperson for Mercedes at the time. As one of AMG's most ambitious projects ever, Mercedes faced a number of hurdles in developing the hypercar. Ola Kallenius, Mercedes-Benz CEO, once even joked that the board must surely have been 'drunk' when it was decided to forge ahead with the car. Adapting the F1 powertrain for use on the street was one of the biggest challenges, and considering how long it took to get everything right, it's all the more disheartening that at least two Ones have been destroyed. Source: Mercedes-AMG Is The AMG One A Fire Risk? While hybrid and EV naysayers may be quick to point at the elevated fire risks of electrified cars, it's impossible to know for sure if this is an inherent flaw in the AMG hypercar. Certainly, two burned cars will raise eyebrows – especially since this is one of the most expensive cars in the world – but these could be entirely isolated incidents that have nothing to do with each other. Presently, no known recalls have been issued for the AMG One, nor have any known injuries occurred as a result of these fires. All we're left with, then, are two enormous insurance claims and a hypercar world deprived of two spectacular track toys.
Forbes
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Mercedes Boss Wants EV Even Playing Field With China, But No 'Crude' Tariffs
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius called tariffs "crude" during the launch of the Vision V concept car ... More at the Shanghai Auto Show today. Photo: Mercedes-Benz AG The CEO of Mercedes-Benz has warned the European Union that tariffs would be a "crude" way to find an equitable competition between European and Chinese EV makers. Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius told the Shanghai Auto Show that a solution had to be found that allowed European automakers to compete head-to-head with Chinese-made electric cars and SUVs, but that way should not be with tariffs. Kallenius, who also serves as the President of the European automotive industry lobby group, ACEA, called tariffs the 'crudest instrument' available to negotiators while launching the Vision V luxury van concept. 'We need to seek win wins," Kallenius said. 'A conversation about a level playing field in an open market is always legitimate, but a pure tariff barrier is the crudest instrument you can apply. "We have wished for the EU and negotiators on the Chinese side to come up with an equitable solution and from what I have read and heard, they are in discussions. "History tells us that economies exposed to the full force of competition are the most innovative. That is what we would like." The EU has already flagged its willingness to negotiate with China over its tsunami of automotive brands heading to Europe, even floating ideas like minimum pricing for Chinese EVs instead of tariffs. Kallenius also launched the Mercedes-Benz Vision V during the Shanghai Auto Show today. The largest ... More Mercedes-Benz factory in the world is in Beijing, and it makes more than 80% of its Chinese volume domesticallly. Photo: Mercedes-Benz AG. While the EU has import tariffs on vehicles of 10%, additional tariffs of 35.3% for SAIC, 18.8% for Geely (whose founder owns 9.8% of Mercedes-Benz) and 17% for BYD were introduced last year. The German auto industry and the ACEA have been fiercely opposed to the tariffs on Chinese EVs, which had the potential to rise to 45.3%, partly due to fears of reciprocity from China, where Germany's automakers sell a third of their annual production. Kallenius himself called China: 'Our most important market and crucial for our technical innovations' during his Shanghai show speech. China makes 80% of its Chinese-market cars in China, and its largest factory is in Beijing, while it also develops most of its Chinese vehicles in China. The latest innovative Mercedes-Benz aimed at Chinese production for the Chinese market is the Vision V, which is aimed at bringing Chinese customer around to the European view that vans could represent genuine luxury, as well as limousines and SUVs.
New Straits Times
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Mercedes bracing for 'once-in-a-century transformation' in car sector
SHANGHAI: German carmaker Mercedes-Benz is preparing for a "once-in-a-century transformation" set to reshape the automotive market, Mercedes chief executive Ola Kallenius said today, German Press Agency (dpa) reported. "What is happening at the moment is a once-in-a-century transformation," Kallenius said at the Auto Shanghai 2025 trade show. This transformation was mainly driven by technology – digitalisation, zero-emissions targets, and automated driving, Kallenius said. The Mercedes chief executive said the company is investing more in technology, innovation, products, and tools than ever to keep up. On the eve of the Shanghai motor show, Mercedes unveiled a long-wheelbase version of its CLA electric car designed for the Chinese market with a range of more than 860 kilometres – a launch described by Kallenius as the largest product offensive in the next three years. Efficiency is crucial in this "once-in-a-century situation," in which so much capital is being freed up, Kallenius said. The Mercedes boss noted that the Chinese market is incredibly competitive, while consumers were more hesitant over the past two years. He said he expects consolidation among the numerous manufacturers on the Chinese market within the next five to 10 years. Like many German carmakers, Mercedes has been struggling recently amid competition from Chinese manufacturers, reporting an annual sales slowdown of 7 per cent for the first quarter. Despite a 10 per cent annual decline in first quarter sales in China, the market still accounted for more than one in three car sales for the firm. Mercedes's group profit fell by over 28 per cent in 2024 compared to the previous year, amounting to €10.4 billion (RM52 billion). Revenue decreased by 4.5 per cent to €145.6 billion. This year, the carmaker expects even stronger headwinds and lower profits. A slight decline in passenger car sales is also anticipated. In 2024, sales amounted to 1.98 million units. – BERNAMA-dpa
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Mercedes CEO urges EU to find equitable solution to China-made EV tariff dispute
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius said on Wednesday the German automaker was urging the European Union to find an "equitable solution" to create a level-playing field for China-made electric vehicles in Europe. A pure tariff barrier was the "crudest instrument" that could be applied, he told reporters on the sidelines of the Shanghai auto show . "We need to seek win wins. A conversation about a level playing field in an open market is always legitimate. But a pure tariff barrier is the crudest instrument you can apply," he said. "We have wished for the EU and negotiators on the Chinese side to come up with an equitable solution and from what I have read and heard, they are in discussions. History tells us that economies exposed to the full force of competition are the most innovative. That is what we would like." The EU increased tariffs on Chinese-built EVs to as much as 45.3per cent last October, but Brussels and Beijing have floated the idea of lifting the tariffs through possible commitments to minimum prices, known as price undertakings for imported cars. The European Commission has said it is willing to continue negotiating an alternative to tariffs with China, which included tariffs of 17.0per cent for vehicles made by BYD, 18.8per cent for Geely and 35.3per cent for SAIC, on top of the EU's standard car import duty of 10%. The discussions to potentially find a truce over the longstanding spat, which has also roiled French cognac makers as Beijing took retaliatory trade action, come as U.S. President Donald Trump has embarked on a trade war with some of the United States' closest trading partners, including the EU and China. Mercedes on Tuesday ahead of the opening of the Shanghai autoshow unveiled a new all-electric luxury limousine van series called "Vision V" with some of the vehicles to be produced in China. Kallenius said on Wednesday he expected to see momentum build in the upper end of the segment for electric vehicles in the next 2-3 years. Plug-in hybrids would likely continue to co-exist with fully electric offerings, he added, at least until 2030. Like many other foreign automakers, Mercedes-Benz's sales have dropped in China, hit hard by stiff competition from local rivals and as a sputtering economy saps consumer confidence.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Mercedes CEO urges EU to find equitable solution to China-made EV tariff dispute
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius is urging the EU to find a fair solution regarding tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, cautioning against using tariffs as the primary tool. He emphasizes the importance of open competition for innovation, as the EU and China discuss potential price commitments to resolve the trade dispute. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius said on Wednesday the German automaker was urging the European Union to find an "equitable solution" to create a level-playing field for China-made electric vehicles in Europe.A pure tariff barrier was the "crudest instrument" that could be applied, he told reporters on the sidelines of the Shanghai auto show "We need to seek win wins. A conversation about a level playing field in an open market is always legitimate. But a pure tariff barrier is the crudest instrument you can apply," he said."We have wished for the EU and negotiators on the Chinese side to come up with an equitable solution and from what I have read and heard, they are in discussions. History tells us that economies exposed to the full force of competition are the most innovative. That is what we would like."The EU increased tariffs on Chinese-built EVs to as much as 45.3% last October, but Brussels and Beijing have floated the idea of lifting the tariffs through possible commitments to minimum prices, known as price undertakings for imported European Commission has said it is willing to continue negotiating an alternative to tariffs with China, which included tariffs of 17.0% for vehicles made by BYD, 18.8% for Geely and 35.3% for SAIC, on top of the EU's standard car import duty of 10%.The discussions to potentially find a truce over the longstanding spat, which has also roiled French cognac makers as Beijing took retaliatory trade action, come as U.S. President Donald Trump has embarked on a trade war with some of the United States' closest trading partners, including the EU and on Tuesday ahead of the opening of the Shanghai autoshow unveiled a new all-electric luxury limousine van series called "Vision V" with some of the vehicles to be produced in said on Wednesday he expected to see momentum build in the upper end of the segment for electric vehicles in the next 2-3 years. Plug-in hybrids would likely continue to co-exist with fully electric offerings, he added, at least until many other foreign automakers, Mercedes-Benz's sales have dropped in China, hit hard by stiff competition from local rivals and as a sputtering economy saps consumer confidence.
