DaimlerChrysler AG and its long-term partner Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Company (BAIC) have laid the cornerstone for the Mercedes-Benz manufacturing facility, which is part of the new joint venture, Beijing Benz-DaimlerChrysler Automotive Co. Ltd.
Dr. Rüdiger Grube, Member of the Board of Management of DaimlerChrysler AG Responsible for Corporate Development and China Operations; Joe Chao, President and CEO of BBDC; An Qingheng, Chairman of BAIC; and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder laid the plant cornerstone earlier this week as part of Schroeder’s trip to China to promote Sino-German trade, at the manufacturing site in the Beijing Development Area, a new industrial park southeast of the city.
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“Our new production facility embodies DaimlerChrysler’s activities in China,” said Grube. “With local production of Mercedes-Benz C-and E-Class sedans, we want to further enhance the presence of the Mercedes-Benz brand in China. DaimlerChrysler is striving to expand the strong brand and product portfolio it offers here, as well as exploring new growth segments.”
“We are committed to establishing a world-class automotive joint-venture which delivers competitive products and services of maximum value for our customers, shareholders and employees,” said Chao.
With the establishment of “Beijing Benz-DaimlerChrysler Automotive Co. Ltd.,” DaimlerChrysler and BAIC restructured and expanded Beijing Jeep Corporation (BJC), the first international automotive joint venture in China to include Mercedes-Benz production. BJC, which was established in 1983, will relocate from downtown Beijing to a new facility adjacent to the Mercedes-Benz facility. Each partner has a 50% stake in the new 30-year joint venture, which will be responsible for local production of Mercedes-Benz E- and C-Class sedans at the new facility from mid-2005, in addition to the products BJC produces – the Jeep 2500; Jeep 4000 and 4700 (Grand Cherokee in other markets); BJ2020; Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Mitsubishi Outlander vehicles.
In the mid-term, the new Mercedes-Benz production facility will produce up to 25,000 Mercedes-Benz E- and C-Class sedans annually. The facility is 62,777 sqm and includes a body shop, vehicle assembly area, component assembly area and administrative area. DaimlerChrysler’s overall site at the BDA 1.9 million sqm.
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By GlobalDataDaimlerChrysler is investing EUR 1.2 billion in China for its ongoing and future projects to realize Mercedes-Benz passenger car and van production, relocate Beijing Jeep Corporation and realize the production of heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks.
