(Yicai) Dec. 12 -- Oliver Thöne, head of product strategy and steering at Mercedes-Benz Group, will join the German automaker’s board next year with responsibility for its business in China as part of management changes announced by the company.

Thöne will succeed Hubertus Troska on Feb. 1, the Stuttgart-based carmaker said yesterday. Thöne currently has one of the most important key positions in vehicle development at Mercedes-Benz, the firm said, adding that its product roadmap up to the 2030s was set under his leadership.

“Thöne is distinguished by his strategic foresight, the clarity of his analyses, and his exceptional understanding of our highly complex business system,” said Martin Brudermüller, chairman of the company’s supervisory board.

China’s premium car segment has come under pressure from the rise of local new energy vehicle brands, with luxury car sales tumbling 8.5 percent to 2 million units in the first three quarters of this year, according to the China Passenger Car Association. Their market share shrank to 10.9 percent from 13.1 percent.

Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi have dropped their prices in China after the vehicle price war bled over into the luxury segment.

Mercedes-Benz is also transforming its operations in China, the world’s biggest auto market, to navigate the increasingly tough competition. In September, the company set out plans to invest more than CNY14 billion (USD2 billion) in collaboration with Chinese partners to bring out passenger and light commercial vehicle models exclusive to the country.

Over the past five years, Mercedes-Benz has invested CNY10.5 billion in research and development in China, focusing primarily on electrification and smart technologies. This substantial commitment has made the firm’s China R&D team its most comprehensive outside of Germany.

Mercedes-Benz said Troska will become a general authorized representative for China at the auto giant until he retires at the end of next July. 

“During his twelve-year responsibility for the Chinese market, he has more than tripled sales in the country, massively expanded the local production network and development capacities, and created an extremely capable team in China,” said Chairman Ola Källenius.

The carmaker also revealed that Sabine Kohleisen, who is responsible for human relations and is labor director, and Renata Jungo Brüngger, who is in charge of integrity, governance, and sustainability, will also retire around the end of next year.

Mercedes-Benz added four new members to its board in the reshuffle.

Editor: Martin Kadiev