Beijing Benz to expand production to manufacture pure electric Mercedes-Benz models

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd. (BBAC), a JV co-invested by BAIC Motor, Daimler AG and Daimler Greater China Ltd. (DGRC), recently has finished the filings of BBAC's reorganization on BAIC Group Beijing Branch's manufacturing upgrading and construction project, the upgrading project of the Mercedes-Benz C-class sedans and the renovation project of the M254 engine technology, according to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform. It is noteworthy that BBAC has attracted a total of RMB 2.816 billion foreign capital at one go.

Involving a total investment of RMB 11.939 billion, BBAC's strategic reorganization project will capitalize on the original production capacity of BAIC Group Beijing Branch to get upgraded and transformed into Beijing Benz high-end new energy vehicle manufacturing base. The first phase of the project, planned to be completed by the end of next year, will achieve an annual production capacity of 150,000 units and an expected annual production value of RMB 50 billion.

It is revealed that the project will adopt the world's most advanced new energy manufacturing techniques, including automatic servo pressing line, 1,400-unit KUKA robots, three-dimensional scanner welding, and Best Fit intelligent cohesion. In the future, BBAC will manufacture all-new Mercedes-Benz pure electric high-end models based on the modular pure electric architecture platform independently developed by BBAC.

BBAC's strategic reorganization project is located in the manufacturing base of BAIC Group Beijing Branch in Zhaoquanying Town, Shunyi District, Beijing. Said to be divided in two parts, the project will not only finish the assets acquisition in BAIC Group, but also will upgrade, transform and expand the production line, which already has a production capacity of 300,000 units, to build up a cutting-edge, highly-intelligent and flexible NEV manufacturing platform.

In addition, BBAC's other two projects, the upgrading project of the Mercedes-Benz C-class sedans and the renovation project of the M254 engine technology will also start construction in Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area.

The former project, with an expected annual production capacity of 130,000 units and a total investment of RMB 3.216 billion, will conduct technology renovation to the existing production line, in order to manufacture new-gen Mercedes-Benz C-class sedans. With a total investment of RMB 2.085 billion, the later project planned to produce 280,000-unit four-cylinder M254 gasoline-engine, by virtue of the existing production capacity of the M270 and the M276 engines.