Mercedes‑Benz CEO Ola Kaellenius told participants at an industry conference in Berlin, organised by the publication Automobilwoche, that China’s automotive market has contracted more sharply than previously anticipated. He referred to data showing that total vehicle sales in China, the world’s largest auto market, were down 22 % year‑to‑date, while sales of premium‑luxury models fell by 30 %. Kaellenius added that market predictability “is not zero, but it’s definitely less than it was 20 years ago.” The comment was published by Reuters on 11‑11‑2026 at 03:48 pm, noting a modest rise of 0.08 % in Mercedes‑Benz Group AG shares (MBGn+0.08%). The article was generated with AI assistance and subsequently reviewed by an editor.