C-Class 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Production For SA

[far2000]

Mercedes-Benz South Africa (Pty) Ltd. (MBSA), a unit of Daimler AG, received confirmation yesterday of the production of the next-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Following extensive planning and preparation to present the East London plant as an optimal manufacturing location within the global production network, Daimler AG, one of the biggest producers of premium cars and the world’s biggest manufacturer of commercial vehicles, announced that it would be investing a further R2-billion into the South African plant in preparation for production of the next-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which will be introduced to global markets in 2014.
Dr Wolfgang Bernhard, Daimler AG Board of Management member, Manufacturing and Procurement Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans, said: “Daimler AG is delighted to include South Africa among the four manufacturing locations around the world to build the next-generation C-Class – the most popular model within the Mercedes-Benz passenger cars range. The Mercedes-Benz plant in East London has been recognised repeatedly for its excellent production quality by J.D. Power and Associates and is one of the best manufacturing plants in the industry. This success is not least due to the great efforts of the East London plant’s team and its stringent application of the Mercedes-Benz production system with its robust processes and rigorous quality standards.”

The three other Mercedes-Benz plants selected to produce the next-generation C-Class are located in Germany, China and the USA. MBSA’s future export programme will include building both left- and right-hand drive C-Class models for export to markets in Africa and the Asia Pacific region.
Delighted with the announcement and the ‘vote of confidence’ in the local operations, Dr. Hansgeorg Niefer, CEO of MBSA, said: “We have had immense success in South Africa with the C-Class, and we have exported to left-hand drive markets since 1998 and to right-hand drive markets since 2000. Today is very special, as we can now go full steam ahead with our preparations to build the next generation of this successful Mercedes-Benz model.”
This R2-billion investment is expected to further enhance the positive economic impact of Mercedes-Benz’ activities in South Africa, both directly through its own operations as well as indirectly, e.g. on the supplier level. “We will bring more than a dozen new technologies to South Africa in the car and production processes,” said Dr. Niefer. “MBSA will localise more than 40% of the components for this new vehicle. We expect to see more investors and new suppliers, all with the latest technologies coming to the country. These developments will certainly strengthen the entire automotive value chain.”

2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Production For SA | SACarFan

 

[Wolfgang]

looks like things are going well in RHD-South Africa?

pic MB Passion Blog

Good Demand Situation:
Mercedes-Benz Works Extra Shifts also in South Africa

• Extra shifts in July and August 2011

• In July record number of right-hand-drive vehicles

Stuttgart/East London, South Africa — Owing to the good demand situation, the Mercedes-Benz plant in East London also is increasing its output: beginning in July, the plant will work additional shifts in its passenger cars production also on the four Saturdays of August. In July the largest number of right-hand-drive vehicles in the history of the East London plant rolled off the assembly line.

Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, member of the Board of Management responsible for Manufacturing and Procurement Mercedes-Benz Cars & Mercedes-Benz Vans: "The C-Class is selling outstandingly well. To meet the high customer demand we are working extra shifts in production also in South Africa."

Rainer Ruess, head of the Mercedes-Benz East London plant: "With the entire team putting in a great effort, we are producing at the limits of capacity in East London – never before did we build so many vehicles for right-hand-drive markets in one month as in July."

Globally, since the first month of its introduction to the market the new generation of the C-Class Sedan has defended the top position in its class. In all, Mercedes-Benz posted 11.4 percent higher sales in the C-Class segment in the first half of 2011 – in June even 18.7 percent.

Many awards for production quality

The East London plant's excellent production quality has repeatedly won recognition: just recently the renowned market research institute J.D. Power and Associates presented East London, together with the Mercedes-Benz Bremen plant, a Gold Award as the best car production facilities in Europe and Africa. Last year East London received a Platinum Award from J.D. Power as the best auto industry plant worldwide; in 2009 it was also the recipient of a Gold Award.

About the Mercedes-Benz East London plant

Mercedes-Benz has had a presence in South Africa since 1954 and acquired majority ownership of the East London plant in 1984. The current C-Class belongs to the third vehicle generation to be manufactured on South Africa's Eastern Cape. Since the year 2000 the plant exports sedans to right-hand-drive markets; since the start of production of the new C-Class in 2007 it also manufactures left-hand-drive vehicles for export to the USA. In 2010 about 2300 employees manufactured more than 52,000 vehicles. Beginning in 2014 the East London plant — as one of four global locations alongside the C-Class competence center in Bremen, the US plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and the Chinese production facility Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd. (BBAC) — also will produce the successor generation of the current C-Class.

Good Demand Situation: Mercedes-Benz Works Extra Shifts also in South Africa | Daimler Global Media Site > Company > Locations