M-B: Beijing plant could build 350,000 vehicles
Daimler AG can expand production capacity at its Beijing plant to 350,000 vehicles a year if customer demand calls for it, said Rene Reif, head of manufacturing at Beijing Benz Automotive Co.
Daimler is expanding the plant before it starts making its long-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz c class, a new car tailored to China.
The factory built 120,000 Mercedes cars in 2013. It makes mainly E- and C-class sedans and soon will add the GLA compact SUV.
By the end of 2014, production capacity in Beijing will be about 140,000 units, Reif said on Monday here.
Reif's projection appears to signal growing confidence among Mercedes' top executives that the automaker's blistering growth in recent months will continue for some time.
For the first three months of 2014, Mercedes sales soared nearly 48 percent year-on-year to 67,058 units.
Three weeks ago, Daimler's joint venture with Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Corp. announced plans to spend 1 billion euros (8.62 billion yuan) to expand its plant in Beijing.
At the time, the company estimated that it would be able to produce 200,000 autos in 2015.
The China push forms part of Daimler's global expansion plan, which involves producing the new C class in the United States, China and South Africa, following the start of the model's production this year in Bremen, Germany.
The factory built 120,000 Mercedes cars in 2013. It makes mainly E- and C-class sedans and soon will add the GLA compact SUV.
By the end of 2014, production capacity in Beijing will be about 140,000 units, Reif said on Monday here.
Reif's projection appears to signal growing confidence among Mercedes' top executives that the automaker's blistering growth in recent months will continue for some time.
For the first three months of 2014, Mercedes sales soared nearly 48 percent year-on-year to 67,058 units.
Three weeks ago, Daimler's joint venture with Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Corp. announced plans to spend 1 billion euros (8.62 billion yuan) to expand its plant in Beijing.
At the time, the company estimated that it would be able to produce 200,000 autos in 2015.
The China push forms part of Daimler's global expansion plan, which involves producing the new C class in the United States, China and South Africa, following the start of the model's production this year in Bremen, Germany.
