The first locally produced Mercedes-Benz GLK compact SUV has rolled off the line at the Beijing production plant of Beijing Benz Automotive (BBAC).

This follows the June 2011 agreement between Daimler and Chinese joint venture partner BAIC to further expand their cooperation in China with various projects, including the GLK.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

Manufacturing chief Wolfgang Bernhard said: “The start of our local GLK production in China exemplifies our strategy of global expansion of production close to the market. We are thus supporting our sales success in our regional markets also from the production side, an important contribution to the Mercedes-Benz 2020 growth strategy.”

Ulrich Walker, chairman & CEO of Daimler Northeast Asia, said: “The GLK has proved to be enormously popular with customers here in China so it is an ideal addition to our lineup of locally-produced vehicles.

“Nothing represents our long-term commitment to China more tangibly than the production of vehicles in China itself: The localised production of further Mercedes-Benz models is an important element of our growth strategy for the Chinese market. As early as 2015 we expect to locally produce two-thirds of all passenger cars sold in China. The start of production of the GLK is another important milestone towards this goal.”

A long-wheel-base E-Class and C-Class are also made in China where Mercedes also has a new engine plant and R&D Centre.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The GLK has sold over 20,000 units since Chinese launch in 2008.

Mercedes-Benz sold 168,940 vehicles overall in China (including Hong Kong) from January through November 2011, up 29.9 year on year. In 2015, the company aims to sell over 300,000.