DaimlerChrysler’s South African plant in East London is bidding against the company’s Bremen and Sindelfingen plants in Germany for the right to build the next generation Mercedes Benz C-Class range due for release in 2007, writes Dave Cumming.

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It is estimated the project would involve an investment of about $US1 million – for extensive refurbishment and upgrading of plant and equipment and employment of additional staff to support a three-shift, 24-hour production cycle.


It would also provide a welcome economic boost to the relatively poor Eastern Cape region in which the factory is situated.


Target production would be 100 000 cars a year. The factory presently manufactures and exports all right hand drive versions of the current C-Class models.

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