Publications
Partners
Mercedes-Benz South Africa’s award-winning East London plant, where the C-Class sedan is produced for both the local market and export to the US, recently set a record in production efficiency.
Starting October, 2011, MBSA will build more C-Classes per day than before, moving the daily build rate up by 250 units.
The news follows the announcement made in late 2010 when MBSA’s parent company, Daimler AG, announced a R2.5billion commitment to build the next-generation W205 in South Africa. It will be introduced in 2014.
GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE
The current W204 is not doing too badly, though. Merc SA reported on September 5, 2011, a record shipment of 3168 C-Classes to the US from East London. Locally, its largest number of right-hand drive vehicles for sale in South Africa rolled off the production line in July, 2011 and – to meet market demands – additional Saturday shifts were run until September, 2011.
Rainer Ruess, MBSA’s vice-president responsible for manufacturing and head of the Mercedes-Benz East London plant said: "We are producing at full capacity in East London. These are exciting times as we improve our global competitiveness."
The plant’s recent optimisation in preparation for the next-generation C-Class was introduced between April and October, 2011, in which just over R20m was spent to improve cycle times and the run through body and paint shops, and on the assembly line.
MBSA expects to increase its 2011 full year production to close to 54 500 units, while its planned target for 2012 is 59 000 cars, which will be the biggest volume produced yet by this plant in one year.
Starting October, 2011, MBSA will build more C-Classes per day than before, moving the daily build rate up by 250 units.
The news follows the announcement made in late 2010 when MBSA’s parent company, Daimler AG, announced a R2.5billion commitment to build the next-generation W205 in South Africa. It will be introduced in 2014.
GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE
The current W204 is not doing too badly, though. Merc SA reported on September 5, 2011, a record shipment of 3168 C-Classes to the US from East London. Locally, its largest number of right-hand drive vehicles for sale in South Africa rolled off the production line in July, 2011 and – to meet market demands – additional Saturday shifts were run until September, 2011.
Rainer Ruess, MBSA’s vice-president responsible for manufacturing and head of the Mercedes-Benz East London plant said: "We are producing at full capacity in East London. These are exciting times as we improve our global competitiveness."
The plant’s recent optimisation in preparation for the next-generation C-Class was introduced between April and October, 2011, in which just over R20m was spent to improve cycle times and the run through body and paint shops, and on the assembly line.
MBSA expects to increase its 2011 full year production to close to 54 500 units, while its planned target for 2012 is 59 000 cars, which will be the biggest volume produced yet by this plant in one year.