Why Is Mercedes-Benz Handing Its European Charging Hubs to Electra?

Mercedes-Benz is stepping back from running its own public charging network in Europe. As of November 1, 2026, all 47 high-power charging hubs the German carmaker built across the continent have become part of Electra, a French ultra-fast charging operator. The two companies confirmed the move on November 3, and for drivers it comes with access to a much larger network straight from the car.

What changed hands

According to Electra's announcement, the deal covers 47 sites with 374 charging points. Most of them are in Germany (31) and Austria (6); the companies did not list the countries of the remaining ten. For Electra, it is a big step in the German market, where its network grows from 50 to 81 charging parks.

No price was disclosed. "electrive" found more detail in Mercedes-Benz's quarterly report, though: the board decided on the sale back in July 2026, the purchase agreement was signed on August 3, and the network was carried at roughly €99 million in assets. Mercedes does not expect a material effect on its results.

The United States is not part of the deal. There, Mercedes keeps operating its own high-power charging network.

What Mercedes owners get

The more interesting part for drivers is the partnership that comes with the sale. Electra becomes a "Premium Partner" in the MB.CHARGE Public charging service, a status previously held only by Ionity, the network Mercedes co-owns.

Depending on their MB.CHARGE Public plan, Mercedes customers get:

• easier access to more than 800 Electra stations with over 5,000 charging points in ten European countries;
• preferential charging rates at those stations;
• the option to reserve a compatible charger from the car before arriving;
• Electra sites shown in the in-car navigation and the Mercedes app.

Electra says its network runs at more than 98.5% availability and offers up to 600 kW at selected sites. One catch, flagged by "EV Infrastructure News": to use reservations and preferential rates through the in-car digital package, drivers also need to register an account with Electra, which handles the charging session and billing.

What changes at the chargers

On the ground, the switch should be close to seamless. The former Mercedes hubs already show up as Electra locations in apps, the ad-hoc payment terminals are being replaced in the coming days, and the chargers will gradually be repainted in Electra colours, losing the three-pointed star. As before, the sites stay open to every EV brand.

Why Mercedes is doing this

Building and running a charging network takes heavy investment and earns thin margins, and 47 sites is a hard footprint to scale alone. By selling, Mercedes keeps the customer benefits (easy-to-find stations, good prices, reservations) without carrying the operating costs. It stays in the charging ecosystem through Ionity and through MB.CHARGE, which bundles access to multiple networks.

What it means for drivers

If you are driving an EV through Germany or Austria, nothing disappears from the map: the sites stay where they are, only the operator and the payment app change. It is worth checking that your route planner lists them under the Electra name, so you don't go looking for the old brand.

For electric Mercedes owners, the upgrade is real: a network several times larger, with reservations and preferential prices available from the car's menu. Before a long trip, check which MB.CHARGE Public plan you have, what it costs at Electra, and whether you need a separate Electra account for reservations. For everyone else, the former Mercedes hubs remain open to all, with direct card payment once the new terminals are in place.