The Chinese businessman who owns the Geely automotive group has acquired a $9 billion stake in Daimler, the German maker of Mercedes-Benz cars and trucks.

The investment by Li Shufu, which Daimler confirmed Friday in a regulatory filing in Germany, represents 9.69 percent of the company.

In a statement, Daimler said it was pleased to have Mr. Li as a “long-term-oriented shareholder” and described him as “ an especially knowledgeable entrepreneur with a clear vision for the future, with whom one can constructively discuss the change in the industry.”

Mr. Li, 54, is chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, a private company that owns a Chinese carmaker, Geely Automobile, as well as Volvo Cars, the Swedish auto brand. Daimler has a partnership in China with a separate, state-controlled company, Beijing Auto.