Production of the new C-class starts at the Mercedes-Benz Bremen plant

The first new C-class has rolled-off the production line at the Mercedes-Benz Bremen plant. The start of production marks the beginning of another chapter for Mercedes-Benz in the success story of its best-selling model series. To date, the company
has delivered more than 8.5-million C-class vehicles to its customers.

From 2014 the C-class will, for the first time, be made to Mercedes-Benz quality standards at four sites on four continents, namely Bremen, East London (South Africa), Beijing (China) and Tuscaloosa (USA). Within just six months, production of the C-class will have been ramped up at all these international locations. The Bremen plant is in overall control of global production of the C-class. Total investment in the production of the new C-class for this year and next amounts to €2-billion.

"The new C-class is setting new standards in the premium mid-range segment in a number of aspects - from design and perceived quality, driver assistance systems to lightweight construction. Just as important - We are also raising the bar in terms of production. Within just six months we will have ramped up production in four C-class plants on four continents. With this, we are leading the way - a further milestone in our Mercedes-Benz 2020 growth strategy," said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

Daimler is investing more than €1-billion in the center of competence for the C-class in Bremen. This investment will strengthen the position of Bremen as a production site for the future. All aspects of the production ramp-up are controlled from Bremen, from the tooling strategy and the training of colleagues at the other sites to product quality. The company is thereby ensuring that the highest quality standards are met at all production sites right from the outset.

"The intensive networking between the four C-class plants around the world is an excellent example of how experts from various regions and cultures work hand in hand at Daimler with dedication and success. Alongside their colleagues from Bremen, around 300 employees from the international also underwent intensive training in order to pass on their detailed know-how in Tuscaloosa, East London and Beijing," said Wilfried Porth, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, Human Resources and Director of Labor Relations & Mercedes-Benz Vans. All employees completed extensive skills training to prepare for the start-up. Courses took place at the pilot plant in Sindelfingen, at the training center in Bremen and on-site at the production line.

"As the center of competence for the new C-class we play a special role in the production network. We are very proud to build the new C-class here in Bremen and to control the global ramp-up of production from here. We have a truly excellent team here that has perfectly mastered all challenges," said Andreas Kellermann, Head of the Mercedes-Benz Bremen plant.

Uwe Werner, Chairman of the Works Council at the Mercedes-Benz Bremen plant, added, "We've been making cars for 75 years in Bremen, and Mercedes-Benz cars for 35 years. I'm delighted that we are able to pass on our knowledge and expertise to our international colleagues in our role as a center of competence. We in Bremen will do all we can in terms of support and sharing of know-how to ensure that the new C-class is produced around the world in Mercedes quality."

Posted in: Andreas Kellermann,Assembly/Manufacturing Plant,Bremen Plant,C-class,Dr. Dieter Zetsche,Europe,Investment,Luxury,Mercedes-Benz,Uwe Werner,Wilfried Porth