German car giant Daimler has said it is going to cut at least 10,000 jobs to help with the switch to electric vehicles. 

The Mercedes-Benz maker said it was looking to save $1.5 billion in staff costs as it joins rival auto companies in investing billions in greener and more efficient cars of the future.

Daimler plans to cut 10 percent of management jobs globally "amounting to some 1,100 positions," the company said, with personnel chief Wilfried Porth later telling reporters the overall job losses would be in "five figures," so will total at least 10,000. 

The firm employs 304,000 people in total.

"The automotive industry is in the middle of the biggest transformation in its history. The development towards CO2-neutral mobility requires large investments," noted a company statement announcing the changes. 

Tough new EU emissions rules take effect next year, which are pushing a shift towards zero-emissions electric cars and plug-in hybrids. 

Similar moves have been made by other car firms in recent months, with Germany's Audi announcing 9,500 job cuts, as well as 5,000 set to go at Volkswagen and car parts supplier Continental. Ford also plans to scrap 5,000 jobs in Germany alone.

German automotive expert Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer told AFP he believes Germany's car sector, which currently employs 800,000 people, will lose 250,000 jobs over the next decade, although he predicted that a total of 125,000 new jobs will be created.