奔驰车主“被割韭菜”，连导航、转向都要付费

Core Viewpoint - Mercedes-Benz is undergoing its largest-ever layoff plan, with around 4,000 employees accepting severance packages amid declining profits and sales, indicating significant challenges in its business transformation and performance [4][6]. Group 1: Layoff and Cost-Cutting Measures - Mercedes-Benz has initiated a layoff plan affecting approximately 4,000 employees, with severance packages designed based on seniority and tenure, including a "fast-track bonus" to encourage quick decisions [4][5]. - The company aims to save about 5 billion euros annually by 2027 through outsourcing decisions and not filling vacant positions, alongside a broader cost-cutting strategy targeting a 10% reduction in production and fixed costs [6][20]. - The layoffs are a response to disappointing sales performance, with global sales in Q3 2025 down 12% year-on-year, totaling 525,300 units, and a cumulative decline of 9% for the first three quarters [6][7]. Group 2: Financial Performance - In 2024, Mercedes-Benz reported total revenue of 145.59 billion euros, a 4% decline year-on-year, with EBIT down 31% to 13.6 billion euros and net profit dropping 28.4% to 10.4 billion euros [6][9]. - The company announced a dividend of 4.3 euros per share, down from 5.3 euros the previous year, and plans to repurchase up to 5 billion euros in shares over the next 24 months to bolster investor confidence [9]. - The significant drop in net profit for the first half of the year was attributed to a 55.8% decline, with revenue at 66.38 billion euros, down 8.6% year-on-year [9]. Group 3: Market Challenges and Strategic Responses - The decline in sales in China, a crucial market, was particularly severe, with revenue dropping 8.5% to 23.14 billion euros and vehicle sales down 7.3% to 683,600 units in 2024 [9][10]. - Mercedes-Benz's controversial operational strategies, such as charging for features that are free in competitor vehicles, have drawn criticism and may exacerbate its challenges in the Chinese market [10][12]. - The company plans to launch 36 new models by 2027, including 17 electric vehicles, and aims to reduce local material costs in China by over 10% by 2027 [20][21].