Daimler plans to more than double output of Mercedes-Benz vehicles to 2.7m by 2020 in its drive to become the world’s largest premium car maker, a German business magazine reported.
Daimler and Mercedes CEO Dieter Zetsche plan to build a new plant in China and another in either the United States or Mexico to meet the target, Manager Magazin said, according to Reuters.
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Daimler sold 1.26m Mercedes cars in 2011, about 120,000 short of the BMW brand.
Manager Magazin also cited sources at Daimler saying the company would match the volume target with an operating margin of over 10% in 2020.
By 2017 or 2018, the new North American plant would begin manufacturing the next generation A-Class together with strategic partner Nissan.
A Mercedes spokesesman declined to comment to Reuters but reaffirmed the 1.6m vehicle sales target for 2015.
Daimler Trucks chief Andreas Renschler is also pushing for a 10% operating margin by 2020 to beat Volvo, the magazine reported.
It said Renschler was considering whether to acquire majority control of Russian truckmaker Kamaz, according to senior managers.
Daimler owns 11% of Kamaz and its financial partner, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), controls another 4%.
A Daimler Trucks spokeswoman told Reuters the company continued to aim for an 8% operating margin on average over the course of an entire business cycle starting from 2013.
She added Renschler was still considering whether to raise the stake in Kamaz, adding that Daimler Trucks had the right of first refusal to buy a 10% stake from investor Troika Dialog.
