Record car production Mercedes Benz South Africa

MERCEDES-Benz  South Africa built  more cars in East  London last year than ever before, a result that bodes well for the future of the city.


A production record of more  than 54312 Mercedes-Benz C- Classes were built in East London last year, compared to  52101 in 2010, and expectations  are that 2012 production will  significantly exceed that of  2011.


 This is excellent news for  East London, home of MBSA’s  West Bank plant, one of the  city’s largest employers.


“This shows that world-class  operations can be established  in South Africa, something of  which we are certainly very  proud.


“ It also assures our South  African customers that they  will not only get the best product available, but will be contributing to shaping a bright  future for South Africa as a  whole,” Arno van der Merwe,  manufacturing plant and East  London site leader for MBSA,  said.


“MBSA considers the East  London plant achievements as  indicative of its long-term commitment not only to sell vehicles to local customers, but  also to use South Africa as a  production hub for both domestic consumption and substantial export business – a  part of the operation which is  bound to grow with the production of the next generation  C-Class.”

2012 Mercedes C Class Coupe

MBSA started construction  work at the end of last year,  executing the plan to almost  double C-Class production capacity in East London by 2014.


“With this investment, we  are building on our ambition to  secure and create more jobs,  and to invest in both our East  London plant as well as in our  people,” said MBSA chief executive and president, Dr Martin Zimmermann.


The MBSA plant was also  again awarded the prestigious  gold award of JD Power and  Associates in their 2011 US Initial Quality Survey, winning  such high accolades for the  third year in a row.


 Border Kei Chamber of Business executive director Les  Holbrook said MBSA’s results  were encouraging, especially in  light of what this means to  East London and the region.


“If MBSA does well in East  London, the city does well, it’s  one of those reciprocal relationships,” Holbrook said.


“The results are very encouraging and it’s also heartening to see MBSA doing well,  despite the recession and global concerns around the economy. This is really good for  East London.”


MBSA did exceptionally well  in sales of their vehicles over  December, beating their own  record on sales and up 38% on  sales in December 2010.


 In general, the latest new vehicle sales statistics from the  National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA  (Naamsa), which excluded  MBSA’s sales figures, showed  that the total sale of 571425  units countrywide last year  was up from 492907 in 2010.


In December, MBSA sold  1714 Mercedes-Benz vehicles,  which was a new December  record, representing an increase of 38% compared to the  previous benchmark set in December 2010.
“We are delighted with the  continued support from existing and new customers,” Zimmerman said.


 Last year MBSA introduced  eight new models to the South  African market, including the  new generation C-Class Sedan  and Estate models.
“We share the consensus  forecast that growth in the passenger car market this year  will slow down considerably  compared to 2011, but we are  confident that Mercedes-Benz  will continue its South African  success story by further growing our business in this country and entrenching our leadership as the premium luxury  brand,” Zimmerman said. —  taralynb@dispatch.co.za


Source : Dispatch.co.za
Tags : Mercedes Benz, C Class, Mercedes South Africa, car production SA


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