C-Class Oh no! C-Class to be produced outside of Germany!

[cawimmer430]

I just heard on the German news that Daimler is planning on producing the W204 C-Class in the USA (Tuscaloosa), China and South Africa PERMANENTLY due to the economic crisis. If this happens, future C-Class (W205) will not be built in Germany but in those three countries.

There are huge protests apparently in Stuttgart by the Daimler factory workers.

 

[ree]

SL will be produced in Singelfingen then…not bad at all, but no C-Class anyway.

 

[fortuner]

The c is already made here in SA.

 

[EnI]

The c is already made here in SA.

And in China - for Chinese market only though.

 

[Giannis]

IMO a proper german car (even entry level ones) should be built in Germany! It doesn't have anything to do with built quality, but with the "feel good" factor. And that is quite important.

 

[cawimmer430]

The c is already made here in SA.

Yep. RHD models for RHD markets and they are of very high quality too.

The problem is as Giannis said though. Some people expect a German car to be made in Germany, especially a Mercedes. It's purely for image reasons.

 

[Zafiro]

At least MB still exist. Volvo and Saab is slowly disappearing from Sweden. Poor employees.

 

[merc4]

C class will still be produced in Germany

Just to make clarification. According to Reuters 20% of future C class will be produced in Alabama, China and SA will take 10% of the production each and the rest (60%) will be built in Bremen, where the production wil rise by 10% (Sindelfingen today produces one third). The present model is built 80% in Germany and the rest in SA and China, the only difference will be the new production in US (probably only for US customers). The european customers will still get their cars hergestellt in Deutschland.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Official: Mercedes-Benz Will Build C-Class In U.S.

Despite the recent downturn in the U.S. economy, luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz continue to see sales growth in the world's biggest car market. The falling dollar has made it even more profitable to build cars in America--and the automaker already builds M-, R- and GL-class vehicles in its Alabama plant.

Mercedes-Benz has now decided on the further development of its global production network. In connection with the launch of the next-generation C-Class in 2014, Mercedes-Benz will start building 20% of the cars at its Tuscaloosa plant in Alabama.

For management, the decision was simple. It is essential to have production facilities of the high-volume C-Class close to the market, and the svelte sedan is the best-selling Mercedes-Benz model in the U.S. market.

Production of the C-Class will also be altered back in Germany. The production of the C-Class sedan for markets in Europe will be concentrated at the Bremen plant in the future.

- Official: Mercedes-Benz Will Build C-Class In U.S. - MotorAuthority

 

[Wolfgang]

Mercedes-Benz Cars increases growth opportunities and protects employment

Daimler press release

 

[Merc1]

Well the fact that they're going to still build them elsewhere means that the qaulity/design/fit won't be designed cheaply like the ML/GL/R. They'll be building the same car that their German counteparts are building I'd hope. This could work out if done right and they don't cheap-arse the next generation C-Class so it can be assembled here. BMW does it the same no matter where its built, it feels, smells, looks the same. Mercedes needs to do the same.

M

 

[Gullwing]

I think/hope MB learned their lesson with the W163. The W164... are much better.

 

[far2000]

I think quite a few US Spec C Classes are built in South Africa....

 

[bmer]

So it's not just RHD C-Classes they build in SA?

 

[fortuner]

Guys i dont see any problem.i own a C63 made in germany and C220cdi built here in SA and their is no quality or build issue..

 

[far2000]

Mercedes-Benz South Africa
Manufacturing plant
Mercedes-Benz South Africa’s manufacturing plant in East London in the Eastern Cape, occupies a top position among Daimler AG manufacturing plants worldwide.

​

The local manufacturing plant is also the only plant outside Germany to manufacture the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class model (W204), following the success of manufacturing the previous C-Class model (W203).

​

The W204 is manufactured in both left- and right-hand drive models for the local and export market.

Facts and figures about the plant and the manufacturing of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W204):

• The investment in the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W204) is in excess of R2-billion.
• Previously, there were 50 robots in the bodyshop, and now there are 250.
• New advanced technologies such as laser-brazing and laser welding have been introduced.
• The W204 has a robust monocoque body (the chassis is integral with the body) made of aluminium and tungsten.
• November 2007: The first shipment of the new C-Class heads off to the United States of America.

From July 2008 the manufacturing plant has been building the new Mitsubishi Triton LCV (bakkie) following on the run out of the predecessor Mitsubishi Colt model. Commercial vehicles production has been in-sourced since March 2008. This increases the plant product portfolio to include: Mercedes-Benz trucks; Freightliner and FUSO trucks as well as Mercedes-Benz bus chassis.
In 2008, the following volumes where produced in the plant:

• W204 C-Class: 51 246 units
• Commercial Vehicles: 11 133 units

Quality
An intense focus on the quality of products built in the MBSA East London plant remains constant and, as a result, has reaped the following awards:

2006
Synovate Award: Best local plant manufacturing passenger cars
Synovate Award: C-Class achieves number one position in the medium segment
JD Power: Mitsubishi Colt SC ranks number one
2007
Synovate Award: C-Class ranks number one in terms of product quality
JD Power: Best local manufacturing plant in terms of initial quality
2008
JD Power: Best local manufacturing plant in terms of initial quality for the second consecutive year
JD Power: C-Class achieves second place

​

The harbour

Mercedes-Benz South Africa has direct access to the port of East London with its car terminal only a stone’s throw from the plant. On four levels, up to 2 600 vehicles can be stored until they start their long journey to our overseas customers.

The port is also the entrance for Mercedes-Benz South Africa’s wide range of passenger cars and commercial vehicles for the local South African market, as well as for the production material coming from plants in Germany and worldwide suppliers, all of which goes directly into the manufacturing process.

​

 

[cawimmer430]

Wasn't their a UK survey in which the W204 C-Class did very well and had nothing but pleased owners? That indicates that the quality of South African-made W204s is perfectly fine. It's not an issue.

Some people will just miss the "Made in Germany" factor when shopping for a German luxury car. Some people. Others, as evidence by people buying RHD C-Class made in South Africa, don't care (or know).


I don't have a problem with SA-made C-Classes.

 

[Wolfgang]

Mercedes plant upgrades, engineering mean long wait


An employee helps assemble a Mercedes-Benz SUV
on the company’s Vance assembly line.


Mercedes plant upgrades, engineering mean long wait

Birmingham Business Journal - by Aneesa McMillan

Plant upgrades and a lengthy design phase are the primary reasons why the first C-Class Mercedes-Benz won’t roll off assembly lines for nearly five years.

The German automaker announced in December that production of the sedan was coming to Mercedes-Benz U.S. International in Tuscaloosa after months of speculation.

According to Mercedes spokeswoman Felycia Jerald, the company is following a common practice in auto manufacturing by waiting for the C-Class’ newest model to be designed before moving production.

“We are building the next generation C-Class and there was no decision to pull production of the existing model,” Jerald said. “It just makes more sense to add a completely new product. It’s going to take a lot of time to build new infrastructure.”

Mercedes plant upgrades, engineering mean long wait - Birmingham Business Journal

 

[SDNR]

I have raised this topic before but I'll mention it again: what has the greatest value in the minds of consumers, "Made In Germany" or "Made By Mercedes-Benz"?

In this brave new world of Global corporatism, Mercedes-Benz is no longer simply a German car maker, it is a Global brand.


....or is it?
Is the brand still so intrinsically connected with Germany? ...or has it grown beyond its borders of origin?

 

[Gullwing]

I have raised this topic before but I'll mention it again: what has the greatest value in the minds of consumers, "Made In Germany" or "Made By Mercedes-Benz"?

In this brave new world of Global corporatism, Mercedes-Benz is no longer simply a German car maker, it is a Global brand.


....or is it?
Is the brand still so intrinsically connected with Germany? ...or has it grown beyond its borders of origin?

What would people think, if you are running for public office (Congress or such in America). What would the public think of you if you drove an American built Mercedes, instead of a Mexican built Ford/GM? What is more American?