BMW, Mercedes And Audi Can't Stop Their Doom Spirals In China - Jalopnik

German automakers trying to win younger buyers in China are struggling, with no strategy clearly working. A recent example is Mercedes’ “So McBenz” campaign, created with McDonald’s and tied to the all-electric CLA, including a cheeseburger figurine replacing the brand’s three-pointed star. Despite the effort, Mercedes sold just 1,153 CLAs in China in the first half of the year. At the same time, Xiaomi sold more than 80,000 SU7 units at a similar price point. The pressure isn’t limited to Mercedes: BMW, Volkswagen and Porsche also saw second-quarter sales declines of at least 30%, worse than the broader market. Rival EV makers, particularly Xiaomi and BYD, are taking share. Bloomberg reports many German brands partnered with Chinese companies for EV technology and local insights, including pricing and faster update cycles that China’s market now demands.