Photo: Mercedes-Benz
Two of the German premium manufacturers are busy drawing a new map of their vehicle production activity in Europe in an attempt to cope with the increased number of models. The endgame for both Mercedes-Benz and Audi is to become the best selling brand in this segment worldwide by 2020.
BMW managed to maintain its top position at the end of last year, but chances are it will lose that crown to its neighbor from Stuttgart come January 2017. Mercedes-Benz sales have been going up constantly from year to year, and 2016 seems to continue the trend for the three-pointed star company.
But that's not down to chance. Mercedes has been on a continuous model offensive lately, and it doesn't look like the onslaught is about to end anytime soon. Naturally, the ever-increasing number of different cars puts a strain on the production line, even though the number of platforms used is somewhat limited.
As a result, Mercedes-Benz has announced at the beginning of this summer that it will begin constructions on a second assembly facility in Kecskemet, Hungary, Automotive News reminds us. The German company will use the new plant to build both front- and rear-wheel-driven models, unlike the current factory where it only produces front-wheel-drive models such as the B-Class, the CLA, and the CLA Shooting Brake.
At the same time, the number of models assembled at the Bremen facility has risen to ten this year after the introduction of the GLC Coupe SUV and the C-Class Cabriolet. The plant is also used to build the entire C-Class family (sedan, station wagon and coupe), the E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet, the SL and SLC roadsters, and the GLC crossover.
Audi has been keeping itself busy as well, launching the production of its new sub-compact crossover Q2 onwww.autoevolution.com/audi/q2/ home turf, in Ingolstadt. Later on, Audi will commence a real model-juggling with its three factories in Belgium, Hungary, and Spain. A new electric SUV that will be built starting 2018 in Brussels will force the move of the A1 hatchback to Martorell, in Spain. Subsequently, the Q3 crossover production will have to be moved to Audi's facility in Gyor, Hungary.
If you find this hard to keep track of, don't worry, we're done. That doesn't mean that so are Audi and Mercedes-Benz, as we can expect further troop movements from them in the future. And a response from BMW isn't that unlikely either, as the Bavarians will not go down without a fight.
But that's not down to chance. Mercedes has been on a continuous model offensive lately, and it doesn't look like the onslaught is about to end anytime soon. Naturally, the ever-increasing number of different cars puts a strain on the production line, even though the number of platforms used is somewhat limited.
As a result, Mercedes-Benz has announced at the beginning of this summer that it will begin constructions on a second assembly facility in Kecskemet, Hungary, Automotive News reminds us. The German company will use the new plant to build both front- and rear-wheel-driven models, unlike the current factory where it only produces front-wheel-drive models such as the B-Class, the CLA, and the CLA Shooting Brake.
At the same time, the number of models assembled at the Bremen facility has risen to ten this year after the introduction of the GLC Coupe SUV and the C-Class Cabriolet. The plant is also used to build the entire C-Class family (sedan, station wagon and coupe), the E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet, the SL and SLC roadsters, and the GLC crossover.
Audi has been keeping itself busy as well, launching the production of its new sub-compact crossover Q2 onwww.autoevolution.com/audi/q2/ home turf, in Ingolstadt. Later on, Audi will commence a real model-juggling with its three factories in Belgium, Hungary, and Spain. A new electric SUV that will be built starting 2018 in Brussels will force the move of the A1 hatchback to Martorell, in Spain. Subsequently, the Q3 crossover production will have to be moved to Audi's facility in Gyor, Hungary.
If you find this hard to keep track of, don't worry, we're done. That doesn't mean that so are Audi and Mercedes-Benz, as we can expect further troop movements from them in the future. And a response from BMW isn't that unlikely either, as the Bavarians will not go down without a fight.
Google News