We recently compiled a list of the 12 Biggest EV Stocks In the World Heading into 2025. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Mercedes-Benz Group AG (OTCPK:MBGAF) stands against the other EV stocks.
Vehicle Market Outlook for 2025 Reflects Mixed Opportunities
According to the S&P Global Mobility report, global vehicle sales in 2025 are expected to reach 89.6 million units, growing 1.7% from 2024. However, several challenges, including high interest rates, economic uncertainty, and evolving electrification policies, are likely to limit growth. In the US, the incoming administration’s policies, including tariffs and deregulation, could further complicate the market. The European market is projected to grow modestly due to economic risks and stricter emission rules.
Meanwhile, China’s vehicle market is expected to see continued growth, especially in new energy vehicles, supported by incentives and subsidies. Global production is forecast to decline by 0.4%, with regional variations. Electric vehicles are still a growth sector, with battery electric vehicle sales projected to reach 15.1 million units, a 30% increase from 2024, the report states. However, uncertainties regarding infrastructure, policies, and supply chains persist.
China’s Electric Vehicle Surge Set to Outpace the World
China is set to lead global EV sales, with domestic EV sales expected to exceed 12 million units by 2025, a 20% increase from the previous year, as reported by the Financial Times. This growth comes as traditional car sales are expected to decline by over 10%. China’s EV success is attributed to advancements in technology and resource supply chains, lowering manufacturing costs. While EV growth has slowed in Europe and the U.S., China’s market continues to expand rapidly, overtaking Western competitors.
However, intense competition and oversupply in the domestic market could lead to consolidation among Chinese manufacturers. The market is anticipated to face challenges in 2025 due to policy changes, but strong growth is expected to resume later in the decade.
New Approach for Reshaping the U.S. Auto Sector
According to a Bloomberg report, advisers to President-elect Donald Trump are proposing a two-pronged strategy to reshape the U.S. auto industry. The plan includes cutting federal subsidies for EVs while fostering a domestic supply chain for their production. This approach aims to prioritize U.S. automakers without taxpayer support for consumers. Recommendations also include easing environmental reviews, speeding up permits for EV projects, and expanding tariffs on EV-related imports.
Moreover, federal incentives like the $7,500 tax credit for EV buyers would be repealed, and fuel economy and tailpipe pollution regulations would return to 2019 levels. The proposals also seek to support domestic manufacturing, including EV battery production, the report states. Additionally, the transition team is considering deregulating the autonomous vehicle industry and easing reporting requirements for carmakers using automated driving technologies.
Potential U.S. Tariffs Could Undermine Canada-U.S. Automotive Trade
There are growing concerns that President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian imports could harm the recovering Canadian auto industry, especially in Ontario, where major automakers produce vehicles largely for U.S. consumers, as per CNBC.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford warned that such tariffs could increase vehicle prices, slow production, and cost jobs in both Canada and the U.S. Trump’s tariffs, intended to address national security concerns, could add significant costs to vehicles and automotive parts from Canada, Mexico, and China. The report states that while Canada’s auto exports to the U.S. are substantial, industry leaders fear the tariffs could disrupt this balance, negatively impacting both sides. Ontario Premier called for closer collaboration between Canada and the U.S. rather than imposing tariffs on their closest ally.
Our Methodology
For this article, we created a list of the largest auto manufacturers in the world that manufacture and sell EVs. We then narrowed our list to 12 stocks with the biggest market cap and were traded on either the NYSE, NASDAQ, or OTC markets. The 12 biggest EV stocks in the world are listed in ascending order of their market cap. We also added the hedge fund sentiment around each stock.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
An online automotive marketplace platform with a large selection of car listings.
Mercedes-Benz Group AG (OTCPK:MBGAF)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: N/A
Market Capitalization: $53.54 Billion
Mercedes-Benz Group AG (OTC:MBGAF) is a German automotive company that operates globally through its Mercedes-Benz Cars, Mercedes-Benz Vans, and Mercedes-Benz Mobility divisions. It designs, manufactures, and sells cars and vans under brands like Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, G-Class, and related parts and accessories. The company also offers financing, leasing, fleet management, insurance services, and digital solutions for charging and payments.
While Mercedes-Benz faced challenges due to product transitions, particularly with the G-Class, and a subdued EV market, leading to a 15% drop in electrified vehicle sales, its plug-in hybrid sales rose by 10%, especially in the US in Q3. In 2024, EVs, including BEVs and plug-in hybrids, are anticipated to account for 18% to 19% of the company’s total vehicle sales. By EV sales volume, Mercedes-Benz takes one of the top 10 spots with nearly 277,600 sales in the first 9 months of 2024, as per EV Volumes.
For the future, the company’s CFO, Harald Wilhelm said that while Mercedes-Benz continues to prioritize achieving European CO2 targets through increased xEV adoption, BEV demand in Europe has been weaker than expected by regulators and manufacturers. Despite this, the company is committed to expanding xEV offerings, including plug-in hybrids, which currently align better with market demand.
Wilhelm outlined key elements of the upcoming EV product lineup. The CLA, based on the MMA platform, will launch in 2025, introducing advancements in software, powertrain, range, and Level 2+ ADAS. By 2026, midsize EVs like the electric C-Class and GLC will follow, alongside AMG’s high-performance electric models featuring the YASA engine. Wilhelm also mentioned significant midlife updates for models like the GLE and S-Class in 2026.
Overall MBGAF ranks 6th on our list of the best EV stocks in the world heading into 2025. While we acknowledge the potential of MBGAF as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than MBGAF but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.