Mercedes-Benz invests 300-million euros in production network; ground-breaking ceremony in Romania

An important milestone at Daimler and the Romanian subsidiary Star Transmission was celebrated attended by numerous guests - the ceremonial ground-breaking for a new assembly plant in Sebes was laid in the presence of Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta
and representatives from both companies. Starting in 2016 the new Mercedes-Benz 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic transmission will be assembled here.

"The additional assembly capacities in Sebes supplement our production operations at the Mercedes-Benz Unterturkheim plant optimally. They also are an important contributing factor in the economics and the flexibility of our international production network of Mercedes-Benz. With this set-up we will successfully satisfy the continuing increase in demand for automatic transmissions," said Markus Schafer, Divisional Board Member Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production and Supply Chain Management.

Victor Ponta, Prime Minister of Romania added, "The expansion of the Sebes location and the connected further investments of Daimler underline that we are on a good way in Romania and have created an attractive investment climate. With this, we aim to further extend our position as an important automotive manufacturing location in Europe and to create further new jobs."

"In Mercedes-Benz global production network for passenger cars the Unterturkheim engine and transmission plant serves as a center of competence," said Peter Schabert, Head of Production Powertrain and Head of the Mercedes-Benz Unterturkheim plant. "From here the experienced production team has shared its know-how with the Romanian employees as part of a special qualification program over the course of several months. The great teamwork in the international powertrain team strengthens our competitiveness on a sustainable basis."

Posted in: 9-speed,Assembly/Manufacturing Plant,Daimler,Europe,Markus Schaefer,Mercedes-Benz,Peter Schabert,Romania,Unterturkheim Plant