Mercedes-Benz joins Geely-backed Qianli as autonomous driving integration is completed
Mercedes-Benz has joined Geely-backed Qianli Technology Group as a shareholder, the company announced on December 27, following the completion of the strategic integration of its autonomous driving business into Qianli Intelligent Driving, according to a report by IT Home.
The integration covers organizational structure, technology platforms, data systems, and product planning, consolidating previously separate resources into a unified operational framework. The company stated that the integration involved coordination across multiple internal systems and technical layers.
Following the completion of the integration, Qianli Intelligent Driving will be led by a core management team consisting of Chairman and CEO Wang Jun, Co-CEO Chen Qi, Chief Technology Officer Yang Mu, and Chen Baocheng, head of research and development and the project management office. The company said the management team will focus on autonomous driving technology development and product delivery.
Qianli Intelligent Driving stated that its post-integration technical direction emphasizes a “high model ratio” approach in autonomous driving systems. According to the company, this approach increases the proportion of algorithms and models in system architecture, prioritizing model generalization capability, data utilization efficiency, and reduced reliance on rule-based logic rather than expanding feature counts.
The company said this technical approach is intended to ensure consistent system behavior across complex urban traffic conditions, long-tail driving scenarios, and cross-regional deployments. No specific system specifications, deployment timelines, or vehicle applications were disclosed.
Qianli Technology announced in March that it would invest in establishing an autonomous driving joint venture to provide an open platform for third-party vehicle manufacturers. Qianli Intelligent Driving was formally established in late June.
Mercedes-Benz said on Thursday that it had completed the acquisition of a 3 percent stake in Qianli Technology for 1.34 billion yuan (USD 191 million), approximately three months after the deal was first announced. The transaction was executed by Mercedes-Benz Digital Technology and involved the transfer of 135.6 million shares of Shanghai-listed Lifan Holdings at 9.87 yuan per share. Before this transaction, Lifan Holdings owned more than 5 percent of Qianli Technology’s shares. Following completion of the deal, Mercedes-Benz became the company’s fifth-largest shareholder. The share transfer was not expected to change the company’s controlling shareholders or actual controllers.
Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, the parent company of listed automaker Geely Automobile Holdings, is one of Qianli Technology’s major shareholders and played a leading role in facilitating Mercedes-Benz’s participation in the investment.
Geely has been consolidating its autonomous driving and intelligent cockpit resources under the broader Qianli Technology umbrella as part of a multi-stage integration process. Industry sources reported that Geely’s internal intelligent cockpit team from its central research institute is expected to be merged into Qianli Technology to strengthen the company’s technological foundation in both autonomous driving and cockpit systems. Earlier this year, Geely also integrated several of its internal autonomous driving teams into Qianli Intelligent Driving, reflecting a broader strategy to streamline development and build a unified autonomous driving and intelligent mobility technology platform, according to 36Kr.
Geely has consolidated its autonomous driving operations into Qianli Technology, positioning the company as its core platform for future autonomous driving technology development.
