Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on August 13, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleMercedes-Benz is negotiating the sale of its leasing subsidiary Athlon to BNP Paribas, with a valuation of about 1 billion euros.
FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Mercedes-Benz is in advanced talks with France's BNP Paribas about the sale of the German carmaker's leasing subsidiary Athlon, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday.
The sale is not yet certain as there are other interested parties, Bloomberg reported, citing several people familiar with the matter.
The subsidiary is valued at about 1 billion euros ($1.17 billion), it cited one of the sources as saying.
Mercedes, at the time Daimler AG, bought Athlon - one of the leading leasing providers in Europe, with a presence in 20 countries - from Dutch bank Rabobank in 2016 for $1.1 billion.
A Mercedes spokesperson said the company is continuously reviewing strategic options for its business, including Athlon.
BNP, which is already active in the vehicle leasing business through subsidiary Arval, was not immediately available for comment.
($1 = 0.8529 euros)
(Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach, writing by Miranda Murray, editing by Thomas Seythal)
The subsidiary is valued at about 1 billion euros, which is approximately $1.17 billion.
Mercedes-Benz is in advanced talks with BNP Paribas, but there are other interested parties as well.
Mercedes-Benz, then known as Daimler AG, bought Athlon from Dutch bank Rabobank in 2016 for $1.1 billion.
BNP Paribas is already active in the vehicle leasing business through its subsidiary Arval.
A spokesperson for Mercedes stated that the company is continuously reviewing strategic options for its business, including Athlon.
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