German Chancellor Merz Tests New Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Praises China-Germany Co-Developed ADAS

During his recent visit to China, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz test-drove the new-generation S-Class sedan at Mercedes-Benz’s China headquarters in Beijing and experienced the urban and highway navigation-assisted driving system co-developed by Mercedes-Benz and Chinese tech company Momenta. Merz praised the collaboration highly, stating, “This is a perfect fusion of German automotive engineering and Chinese technology—truly impressive: great cars, great technology!” During his visit, he also learned about Mercedes-Benz’s latest progress in deepening technological cooperation in China. Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group, accompanied him on the tour. On the same day, Mercedes-Benz and Momenta signed an upgraded strategic cooperation memorandum of understanding to further strengthen their partnership. It is reported that Mercedes-Benz operates the most comprehensive R&D network outside Germany in China, with its dual innovation hubs in Beijing and Shanghai leading global digital innovation initiatives—including smart connectivity, autonomous driving, and software and hardware development. Notably, the new S-Class’s premium rear-seat entertainment system was led by the Chinese team.