Mercedes-Benz has announced that it will be assembling three new cars in China at a joint venture facility with BAIC Motor this year, and the cars are the AMG A 35 L, GLB crossover, and EQC electric crossover. The move complies with local rules that require automakers to expand electrified vehicle output, Automotive News reports.
As such, the EQC becomes the first locally produced luxury electric crossover in China, whereas the stretched A 35 L is the first AMG model to be produced there (traditionally, AMG models have always been imported from Germany). The GLB will be the brand’s third locally produced crossover sold in the market, after the GLA and GLC.
With local production now underway, Mercedes-Benz can avoid paying tariffs to China customs, although it’s unclear exactly when the trio will go on sale in the country. Other than that, the A-Class, C-Class and E-Class sedans are also being assembled in Beijing.
In the first half of 2019, Beijing Mercedes-Benz (a joint venture company) delivered around 282,000 locally produced vehicles in China, a 12% jump from the same period in 2018. The tristar firm also assembles three vans with BAIC in Fuzhou, those being the the Vito, Sprinter and V-Class.
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It’s a very strategic and beneficial decision
Smart move and I hope our country will be the manufacturing hub for SEA
european cars are already getting most components from China, save cost when sending them to Germany for assembly..lol