Asian Tech Press (Nov 30) -- Mercedes-Benz and BMW, two German auto giants, have agreed to cooperate to build an electric vehicle charging network in China.

Mercedes-Benz announced Thursday that Mercedes-Benz (China) Investment Co., Ltd. has signed a cooperation agreement with BMW's Chinese joint venture, BMW Brilliance Automobile Ltd.

Under the agreement, the two companies will set up a 50:50 joint venture in China to operate a supercharger network in the Chinese market, combining their efforts to meet the growing demand for luxury charging services from Chinese customers.

By the end of 2026, the joint venture plans to build at least 1,000 supercharger stations across China, with approximately 7,000 supercharging piles.

The joint venture's EV charging network will be open to the public, the two automakers said.

Mercedes-Benz said in a press release that the first batch of charging stations is set to start operating in key Chinese cities friendly to new-energy vehicles starting next year, with subsequent charging station construction covering other cities and regions across the country.

And the joint venture also plans to source renewable power when conditions allow, providing a sustainable luxury charging experience for Chinese customers.

The establishment and operation of the joint venture is subject to the approval of relevant regulatory authorities, the parties said.