Mercedes-Benz AG is selling its company-owned Berlin-Brandenburg branch to a strong, long-standing partner. Global Auto Holdings (GAHL), a highly experienced international family-owned company founded in Canada and headquartered in the United Kingdom, will take over the seven Berlin locations. The contract for the sale was signed this week. GAHL has already been successfully operating Mercedes-Benz dealerships in the UK and the US for years. The closing of the transaction is subject to antitrust clearance. The parties plan to finalise the acquisition by the end of 2026.
"Our goals for the strategic realignment of our company-owned retail branches are clear: we want to further strengthen the high quality of sales and service for our customers, systematically develop the locations, and offer our employees excellent future prospects. In GAHL, we have found the perfect partner for this—for the world's largest flagship store at Salzufer as well as the other Berlin locations. The successful divestment process of our branches proves the appeal of our brand and validates our best-ownership approach. Market interest in the locations is exceptionally high, and implementation is fully on schedule." Mathias Geisen, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Sales & Customer Experience
"We are honoured that the top management of Mercedes-Benz is placing its trust in us to represent the brand in the German capital. Together with the highly motivated and talented local team, we will continue this success story. This is our first location in the German market and a hugely important step in our global growth strategy. We will continuously invest in the growth of Mercedes-Benz Berlin and its dedicated workforce." Kuldeep Billan, Owner of Global Auto Holdings (GAHL)
As part of the strategic realignment of its company-owned retail network in 2024, Mercedes-Benz decided to future-proof its corporate-owned branches. The step-by-step, individualised sale of these locations has proven highly successful thus far and has been met with widespread market interest. Mercedes-Benz already sold its branches in Koblenz, Neu-Ulm, Mainz, Dortmund, and Lübeck in 2025. The spin-off process for these operations was successfully completed by February 2026. In early 2026, contracts were signed for the sale of the company-owned branches in Aachen, Kassel, Würzburg, Wuppertal, Reutlingen, and Hanover. The closing of the transactions for these branches is expected to take place within the current 2026 financial year. With this realignment, Mercedes-Benz aims to secure the long-term viability and competitiveness of its retail branches while offering employees strong future prospects. Customer benefit remains at the heart of the best ownership approach: transferring ownership to high-performing, forward-looking buyers secures continued investment in the local dealerships. The ongoing modernisation of both locations and processes ensures that the brand experience and service quality for customers are not merely maintained, but noticeably enhanced.
In Global Auto Holdings (GAHL), an international top-tier partner is now taking over the capital's locations. GAHL is one of the world's leading automotive retail groups, maintains a close partnership with Mercedes Benz in the UK and the US, and, as a long-term oriented owner, places great value on preserving the corporate culture and retaining the existing workforce.
A crucial foundation for the employees' future working conditions is the preservation of collective bargaining agreements. This framework was established centrally and in close partnership with employee representatives in the summer of 2024 to guarantee favourable working conditions for the workforce.
About the Berlin Brandenburg branch and GAHL
The Berlin Brandenburg branch comprises seven attractive locations with more than 1,100 employees. Featuring the flagship store at Salzufer, located in close proximity to the Tiergarten, Berlin offers over 36,000 square meters of floor space, making it the largest Mercedes-Benz dealership worldwide. Supported by a strong product pipeline of over 40 new model variants through the end of 2027, the location is exceptionally well-positioned to achieve significant growth in the coming years.
Global Auto Holdings ("GAHL"), headquartered in the UK and founded in Canada, is one of the world's leading automotive retail groups, generating over $8 billion in revenue through its global operations. The group maintains a close partnership with Mercedes-Benz across numerous dealerships in the UK and the US.
Contact: Benjamin Kraft, +49 176 30957277, benjamin.b.kraft@mercedes-benz.com Johannes Leifert, +49 176 3090 4735, johannes.leifert@mercedes-benz.com
Mercedes-Benz Anniversary Year “140 Years of Innovation”
Since Carl Benz filed the patent for the first automobile 140 years ago and Gottlieb Daimler built his motorised carriage shortly afterwards, Mercedes-Benz has dedicated itself to constantly innovate and to create the world’s most desirable cars for customers. This ambition has driven every innovation – from the world's first automobile in 1886 to today's intelligent and safe electric vehicles, like the all-new GLC and the award-winning all-new CLA. With the new S-Class, the company continues the biggest product launch programme in its history. With its passion for performance and pioneering power, excellence and an unwavering commitment to customer service, the brand has consistently shaped the future of mobility. The result goes well beyond engineering achievement – it creates the unmistakable feeling that leads through everything Mercedes-Benz does: Welcome home.
Mercedes-Benz is celebrating 140 years of innovation by driving three new S-Class saloons on a trans continental journey to 140 locations worldwide. Each place highlights the brand’s technology, heritage, pioneering spirit and worldwide presence. Along the way customers, fans and colleagues will get to join in the celebrations - on an epic adventure that will run until October. Follow the “140 Years. 140 Places” drive across six continents on our “140 years of innovation | Mercedes-Benz Media” special and via the Mercedes-Benz Community.
Further information about Mercedes-Benz Group is available at: media.mercedes-benz.com and group.mercedes-benz.com
Forward-looking statements This document contains forward-looking statements that reflect current views of the Mercedes-Benz Group about future events. The words “anticipate”, “assume”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “can”, “could”, “plan”, “project”, “should” and similar expressions are used to identify forward looking statements. These statements are subject to many risks and uncertainties, material examples of which include (1) an adverse development of global economic conditions, in particular a negative change in market conditions in the most important markets e.g. a shift in consumer preferences towards smaller, lower-margin vehicles; a limited demand for all-electric vehicles; a possible lack of acceptance of products or services which limits the ability to achieve prices and adequately utilize production capacities; a decline in resale prices of used vehicles; (2) the business outlook for companies in which the Mercedes-Benz Group holds a significant equity interest; (3) the successful implementation of strategic cooperations and joint ventures; (4) a deterioration of refinancing possibilities on the credit and financial markets; (5) the effective implementation of cost-reduction and efficiency optimization measures; and (6) the resolution of pending governmental investigations or of investigations requested by governments and the outcome of pending or threatened future legal proceedings; and other risks and uncertainties, some of which are described under the heading “Risk and Opportunity Report” in the current Annual Report or in the current Interim Report. Further examples for such risks include events of force majeure including natural disasters, pandemics, acts of terrorism, cyber-attacks, political unrest, armed or other conflicts, industrial accidents and their effects on sales, purchasing, production or financial services activities; changes in currency exchange rates, customs and foreign trade provisions; changes in laws, regulations and government policies (or changes in their interpretation), particularly those relating to vehicle emissions, fuel economy and safety or to the communication regarding sustainability topics (environmental, social or governance topics); price increases for fuel, raw materials or energy; disruption of production due to shortages of materials or energy, labour strikes or supplier insolvencies. If any of these risks and uncertainties materializes or if the assumptions underlying any of our forward-looking statements prove to be incorrect, the actual results may be materially different from those we express or imply by such statements. The Mercedes-Benz Group does not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements since they are based solely on the circumstances at the date of publication.
Mercedes-Benz Group at a glance Mercedes-Benz Group AG is one of the world’s most successful automotive companies. With Mercedes-Benz AG, the Group offers a wide range of high end passenger cars and premium vans. Mercedes-Benz Financial Services is another key pillar of the Group and plays a central role in the financial services business. The company founders, Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz, made history by inventing the automobile in 1886. As a pioneer of automotive engineering, Mercedes-Benz sees shaping the future of mobility in a safe and sustainable way as both a motivation and obligation. Mercedes-Benz continues to invest systematically in the development of efficient powertrains and sets the course for an all-electric future. The company seeks to offer customers the most desirable option in every segment - by relying on advanced technologies, extraordinary designs and an incomparable customer experience. The company’s efforts are also focused on the intelligent connectivity of its vehicles and autonomous driving as Mercedes-Benz regards it as its aspiration and obligation to live up to its responsibility to society and the environment. Mercedes-Benz sells its vehicles and services in nearly every country of the world and has production facilities in Europe, North and Latin America, Asia and Africa. The brand portfolio includes, in addition to Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach as well as the brands in the areas of financial services and mobility: Mercedes-Benz Bank, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, and Athlon. The company is listed on the Frankfurt and Stuttgart stock exchanges (ticker symbol MBG). In 2025, the Group had a workforce of around 164,000 and sold more than 2.1 million vehicles. Group revenues amounted to €132.2 billion and Group EBIT to €5.8 billion.