Mercedes-Benz to Expand Production Capacity in China

Mercedes-Benz saw its business register a hefty growth in China during the first quarter of 2010, as the carmaker’s deliveries managed to reach a record 24,100 units, a figure that can be translated into a 105 percent increase, as compared to the one posted in the first quarter of last year.


As a response to this market increase, the company plans to expand its production capacity in the country. Through it’s joint venture with Beijing, Mercedes-Benz wants to produce up to 100,000 units per year in the future and will upgrade the production capacity of its Beijing plant in order to reach this target.

In addition to that, the carmaker will increase the number of vehicles produced in the country, with the long wheelbase version of the E-Klasse being the second model produced at the Beijing plant. The company has recently debuted the domestic production of its commercial vehicles, as it started to assemble the Viano model at the Fuzhou site.

“We aim to sell more than 100,000 passenger vehicles in China this year. The launch of the long wheelbase version of the E-Class will further intensify the dynamic growth of Mercedes-Benz in the Chinese market. The local production of an additional model will further strengthen our position the market. Over the medium term, the number of locally produced vehicles will reach the level of imports,” said Says Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars.

China is now the automotive producer’s third largest market and has also become the No. 1 market for the company’s the S-Klasse flagship sedan.