Just like Tesla did with the Model S in the premium sedan segment, Tesla Semi, the company’s upcoming all-electric semi truck, is aiming to become the best-selling truck in its segment, according to CEO Elon Musk.

It means that they are attempting to dethrone Freightliner’s Cascadia.

Daimler, Freightliner’s parent company, doesn’t seem too worried about the upcoming competition from Tesla based on recent comments from an executive. expand full story

Earlier this year, Daimler announced that it is converting the Smart brand to all-electric in North America and discontinuing gas-powered Smart cars.

By September, Canadian and American dealerships will stop receiving gas-powered Smart cars and the 2017 electric smart model year cars will become the only options.

We now learn that the move is facing some opposition with its dealer network as Smart car dealers are now considering stopping sales of the vehicles and going service-only. expand full story

If there’s a place where established automakers are not shy about making electric vehicle investments, it’s in China.

After recent investments from GM and VW, now Daimler is increasing its electric vehicle investments in the country. expand full story

Mercedes-Benz is not only talking about electric car concepts and show models anymore. The German automaker is increasingly securing manufacturing capacity at its existing plants in order to produce its upcoming EQ electric vehicles.

The company announced today that it reached a deal with the management and works council of the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt in order to build ‘compact electric vehicles’ at the factory. expand full story

Earlier this year, Daimler announced that it is converting the Smart brand to all-electric in North America and discontinuing gas-powered Smart cars.

By September, Canadian and American dealerships will stop receiving gas-powered smart cars and the 2017 electric smart model year cars will become the only options.

Today, Daimler confirmed pricing of the 2017 smart fortwo electric drive and it received a small price reduction to a starting MSRP of $23,800. expand full story

Daimler is among one of the few major automakers with aggressive all-electric vehicle plans. The German automaker recently announced acceleration of electric car plans by 3 years and that they will spend $11 billion on 10 models by 2022.

They are backing this up with a new battery factory, which they officially unveiled today. expand full story

Mercedes’ parent company, Daimler, announced today an important partnership with German auto supplier Bosch to develop self-driving technology aimed at the taxi and ridesharing industries.

The agreement includes the goal to reach level 4 and 5 autonomous driving systems “by the start of the next decade” – 2020-2021 – which is in line with each company’s previous timelines for autonomous driving.  expand full story

Logistic companies are increasingly finding it economical to convert their fleet to electric vehicles, especially for urban routes. Daimler is early in the segment with its Mercedes-Benz vans and it now announced an important contract that will help them kickstart the effort.

They will make 1,500 all-electric Mercedes-Benz vans for Germany’s largest independent logistic firm, Hermes. expand full story

We reported just last week that Daimler was among the most ambitious legacy automakers when it comes to the electrification of their vehicle lineup with plans for 10 new all-electric models and 15 to 25% of all their production being electric by 2025.

At Daimler’s Annual Shareholder‘s Meeting in Berlin today, the company announced an acceleration of those plans. They are now aiming to get those new electric vehicles in production by 2022 – 3 years sooner than previously announced. expand full story

Daimler and Tesla have an interesting relationship. New Tesla fans might not know that Daimler actually saved the electric automaker from bankruptcy, according to CEO Elon Musk, when they invested $50 million for ~9% of the company back in 2009.

What is interesting is that despite this early show of confidence in the company, it has taken years for the German automaker to launch its own serious electrification effort, but it’s now ready to do it and they thank Tesla for having paved the way. expand full story