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Daimler could sell off Li-Tec's EV battery business

Five-plus years may have been about enough time for Daimler AG to know whether it wanted to be in the battery-pack production business. The Mercedes-Benz parent may stop making electric-vehicle batteries and ultimately sell its Li-Tec battery-cell factory in Germany within two years, according to Bloomberg News which cites Manager Magazin. The beneficiary may be LG Electronics, which would likely take over battery-production duties for models such as Daimler's Smart ED battery-electric vehicle. Daimler is taking a number of steps to improve profit margins, which are thinner than those of its German rivals like BMW. Like its German competition, the company has lagged behind companies such as Nissan, Renault and Tesla Motors in terms of aggressively pursuing growth via plug-in vehicle sales. Daimler spokesman Hendrik Sackmann, in an e-mail to AutoblogGreen, would only say that the battery business is growing "rapidly" and that Li-Tec is developing "according to our plans." "Regarding Li-Tec, we are working on a concept for the future line-up," he added. "The battery cells for the successor of the Smart electric drive won't be provided by Li-Tec." Daimler in 2008 launched Li-Tec as a joint venture with Evonik, though Daimler recently put plans together to buy out Evonik's 50-percent share of Li-Tec, Bloomberg reported last month. Evonik's role was manufacturing electrodes and separators for batteries. Daimler also said last fall that it was looking to cooperate more extensively with Tesla in regards to electric vehicle development. The two companies first said they'd work together in 2009. Featured Gallery 2013 Smart Fortwo ED View 16 Photos News Source: Bloomberg NewsImage Credit: Daimler Green Plants/Manufacturing Mercedes-Benz battery

These are the cars with the best and worst depreciation after 5 years

The average new vehicle sold in America loses nearly half of its initial value after five years of ownership. No surprise there; we all expect that shiny new car to start depreciating as soon as we drive it off the lot. But some vehicles lose value a lot faster than others. According to data provided by iSeeCars.com, trucks and truck-based sport utility vehicles generally hold their value better than other vehicle types, with the Jeep Wrangler — in both four-door Unlimited and standard two-door styles — and Toyota Tacoma sitting at the head of the pack. The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited's average five-year depreciation of 30.9% equals a loss in value of $12,168. That makes Jeep's four-door off-roader the best overall pick for buyers looking to minimize depreciation. The Toyota Tacoma's 32.4% loss in initial value means it loses just $10,496. The smaller dollar amount — the least amount of money lost after five years — indicates that Tacoma buyers pay less than Wrangler Unlimited buyers, on average, when they initially buy the vehicle. The standard two-door Jeep Wrangler is third on the list, depreciating 32.8% after five years and losing $10,824. Click here for a full list of the top 10 vehicles with the least depreciation over five years. On the other side of the depreciation coin, luxury sedans tend to plummet in value at a much faster rate than other vehicle types. The BMW 7 Series leads the losers with a 72.6% drop in value after five years, which equals an alarming $73,686. BMW's slightly smaller 5 Series is next, depreciating 70.1%, or $47,038, over the same period. Number three on the biggest losers list is the Nissan Leaf, the only electric vehicle to appear in the bottom 10. The electric hatchback matches the 5 Series with a 70.1% drop in value, but since it's a much cheaper vehicle, that percentage equals a much smaller $23,470 loss. Click here for a full list of the top 10 vehicles with the most depreciation over five years.

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE priced from $52,025

Mercedes-Benz released its full 2016 model year lineup and pricing details, and we've learned that the M-Class-replacing GLE will start at $52,025, including $925 for destination. The German automaker confirmed a few changes to the rest of its lineup, as well. For the GLE, that $52,025 price gets you the base GLE350. The GLE350 with 4Matic all-wheel drive starts at $54,525. The rest of the GLE range consists of the diesel-powered GLE300d 4Matic at $53,425, the GLE400 4Matic at $65,525, the GLE63 AMG at $100,875, and the range-topping GLE63 S AMG at $108,025. Mercedes will also offer the GLE500e 4Matic plug-in hybrid, but exact pricing for that model has not been released as of this writing. The GLE models start hitting dealers in August. Pricing for the BMW X6-fighting GLE Coupe – available in GLE450 and GLE63 forms – is also unknown. Elsewhere in the range, Mercedes-Benz will offer a new, diesel-powered C300d 4Matic, which goes on sale in February 2016. We already know the C-Class gets a new C350e plug-in hybrid model this year, which will arrive in September. Finally, the C400 has been killed, replaced by the C450 AMG Sport. Pricing for these new C-Class models has not been released. The small SLK roadster will receive a refresh soon, where it will be renamed SLC. In the meantime, the base SLK250 is now the SLK300, and comes with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Finally, Mercedes confirms the CLA will get a special "Edition: Orange" model, available on the CLA250 and CLA250 4Matic, limited to just 750 units nationwide. A host of other, smaller updates are available across Mercedes' model range. Read all about them in the very detailed press release, below. Related Video: MERCEDES-BENZ ANNOUNCES 2016 MODEL YEAR PRICING AND PRODUCT UPDATES The unprecedented product offensive continues with a host of exciting new models June 12, 2015 - MONTVALE, NJ -- Mercedes-Benz USA today announced pricing and model year changes for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz product portfolio. The company continues to expand its highly desirable model range this year with the addition of the awe-inspiring new Mercedes-AMG GT S, the ultra-exclusive Mercedes-Maybach S600, the sporty and versatile GLE, the sleek and stylish new GLE Coupe and the highly anticipated new GLC that will succeed the popular GLK when it arrives in U.S. showrooms in late November. In addition, smart will also welcome a redesigned smart fortwo that will launch in the U.S. market in September.