Mercedes-Benz and its joint venture partner BAIC Group have begun producing the all-new GLC SUV at their plant in Beijing, China.
The GLC is the second all-new SUV model to kick-off local production at the Beijing Benz Automotive Co. (BBAC) joint venture’s manufacturing facility in the Chinese capital city, following the GLA’s production debut six months ago.
The start of production for the GLC puts the plant’s second phase of development for new rear wheel architecture vehicles into full operation.
With a new assembly and body shop in addition to an all-new paint shop completed for the GLA SUV, these new production facilities cover a total area of almost 250.000 square meters, making it larger than twenty soccer fields.
“China is already our number one market for the GLA and GLK. The GLC will undoubtedly continue our SUV success story here as it tops its predecessor. The all-new GLC is also the latest proof for the tremendous development of our local production footprint. In 2015 BBAC will see for the first time ever an annual output of over 200,000 units,” said Hubertus Troska, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Greater China.
Beijing is the second production site for the new Mercedes-Benz GLC following the lead plant in Bremen, Germany. The engines powering the GLC are locally produced at BBAC too. Mercedes-Benz says the GLC comes with a localization rate of up to 60 percent, depending on the variant.
The Chinese-spec Mercedes-Benz GLC will debut at the Guangzhou Auto Show in November.
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