More and more car manufacturers announce a development stop for internal combustion engines. Daimler is now following VW – at least with a break.

It is considered the most expensive and complicated assembly in classic cars: the combustion engine. Now more and more manufacturers are electrifying the drive trains of their vehicles, from mild and full hybrids to pure electric cars. Consequently, the executive floors are shifting development capacities away from the combustion engine to the electric drive. After VW, Daimler has now announced that it will initially step out of the development of combustion engines.

The group has just refreshed its range of internal combustion engines – now it’s a break. Daimler development chief Markus Schäfer emphasizes that the main focus is now on electrification, electric drives and battery development. This also involves shifting capacities from internal combustion engine and transmission development to new development areas. The overall budget for research and development remains at a high level, Schäfer is pleased.

Possibly the last generation of Daimler combustion engines

Daimler is currently launching the latest generation of internal combustion engines in various models, such as the new six-cylinder in-line engine for the E- and S-Class and the SUVs – this generation could also be the last. Schäfer draws attention to the fact that there are currently no plans for a new development. That Daimler will resume development work on combustion engines in the future, but is not excluded.