MADE IN CHINA

Marking another milestone for Mercedes-Benz in China, the first locally produced Mercedes-Benz GLK compact SUV rolled off the line today at the Beijing production plant of Beijing Benz Automotive Co.

This follows the June 2011 agreement between Daimler and Chinese Joint Venture partner BAIC to further expand their cooperation in China with various projects, including the GLK. The GLK adds to the locally-produced Long-wheel-base E-Class and new C-Class, and complements other current investments in BBAC, including the new engine plant and R&D Center.

Ulrich Walker, Chairman & CEO of Daimler Northeast Asia, explains: “The GLK has proved to be enormously popular with customers here in China, so it is an ideal addition to our lineup of locally- produced vehicles.”

The Mercedes-Benz GLK has received a very warm welcome from customers worldwide since its debut in 2008. In particular in China, a growing number of customers have appreciated the brand’s compact SUV, with sales already well in excess of 20,000 units in the current year. China now represents one of the most important markets worldwide for the GLK.

Mercedes-Benz sold 168,940 vehicles overall in China (including Hong Kong) from January through November 2011, an increase of 29.9 percent compared to the same time-frame in 2010. Year-to-date sales in October 2011 already exceeded the total number of cars sold in 2010. The next few years are also certain to see further sales growth: in 2015, the company aims to sell more than 300,000 Mercedes-Benz passenger cars in China.