Mercedes Considering U.S. Built C-Class

2010 Mercedes-Benz C 300 sport

Decision expected in January

By Michael Gauthier
November 13, 2009 8:01 PM
Filed Under: German, Industry, Mercedes-Benz, Production

According to a recent report, Mercedes is considering building the C-Class in the United States.

The move would protect the sedan from future currency fluctuations, and put an end to declining profitability on C-Class sales because of the weak US dollar.

If production is green-lighted, the C-Class would be built in Vance, Alabama alongside the M-, GL- and R-class. While nothing is official, annual US production of the C-Class would likely total 80,000 units.

During a press conference, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said "It's no secret that a decision for the new C-class has to be made in the near future." If Automotive News is correct, a decision will be made in January.

Source: autonews.com (sub req)

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Tags: Mercedes C-Class, Mercedes Vance plant

Comments

6spdaudi

November 13, 2009 8:30 PM

I am surprised it has taken this long.

McNamara68

November 13, 2009 9:27 PM

it makes sense. wherever you can get cheap labor that has virtually no rights against their employer, it makes for greater profitability. hell, in alabama and south carolina where MB and BMW make some of their cars, there are no strike laws for god sake.

autoficianado

November 13, 2009 10:18 PM

The Labor is not cheap in South Carolina its about the industry norm. The smaller cars made by luxury makers have a thin profit margin thats why building them in the country they are sold in makes sense as it insulates the manufacturer from currency fluctuations. Sounds like more union (organized labor) talking. Car making is a business and needs to be run like a business. Stop grousing when automakers are making smart decisions. Bad decisions are what put GM, Chrysler and others into bankruptcy we don't need any more reminders...

Edited by user on November 13, 2009 at 10:24 PM

rcw

November 13, 2009 10:23 PM

Well stated!

McNamara68

November 13, 2009 11:13 PM

The labor in South Carolina is much cheaper than it is in Germany when you factor in benefits. When you throw in labor restrictions (or the lack thereof in the less well-heeled states in the Union) the incentive to produce there goes up ten fold. Why do you think Boeing is relocating the production of the new Dreamliner to SC from WA? It is all about the lack of labor protections in the former. To say that labor is not cheaper in SC is a joke and shows you are way out of touch. They have one of the lowest min. wages in the U.S. and draw heavily on unskilled latin american workers for a large portion of their industry.

sideskraper

November 14, 2009 6:25 AM

They're not relocating 787 assembly. They're expanding in a second location. Charleston is their only real major facility big enough to handle 787 assembly (and future 737 replacement assembly) since they decided to shutter Long Beach in the long term.

Edited by user on November 14, 2009 at 6:42 AM

McNamara68

November 14, 2009 9:11 AM

@ Sideskraper, you are correct, the new SC plant to be built will be the second 787 assembly plant. nevertheless, the point still stands. their decision to locate this plant there is largely driven by soft labor protections in SC, bottom line.

wjaprep

November 13, 2009 11:05 PM

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

no no no no no no no.

I dnt wanna buy an German car made in America. Yes, I know, it's still a Mercedes and still a German car and blah blah blah, but... in America? that's just wrong.

EDavis

November 14, 2009 12:56 AM

Relax. We're really good at building other peoples' cars. Besides, any quality control issues that may have arisen at the Alabama factory with regard to the first vehicle that was built there, the ML320 I believe, were quickly addressed by MB brass when they replaced the water fountains on the factory floor with moonshine stills.

sub39h

November 14, 2009 6:09 AM

that's not true. even the Euro spec 300C is built in Austria to prevent quality control issues.

EDavis

November 14, 2009 7:43 AM

sub39h: "that's not true"

What's not true?

otakki

November 13, 2009 11:45 PM

I thought the previous generation c-class was built in the US at one point. If it can be built to the same high quality, I do not really care where it is built. Strict quality control is everything.

Sacto8780

November 14, 2009 3:52 PM

I think with the declining popularity of SUV's due to fuel efficiency requirements, don't be surprised that M-B produces not only the C-class sedan, but also the upcoming next-generation B-class hatchback at its Vance, AL assembly line, too.

pismeov

November 14, 2009 10:01 PM

i don't see this as being a problem. the m-class and bmw x5 that are built in the states now seem to be of good quality. some c-classes are built in south africa and are sold alongside the german built ones and not many people can tell the difference. as was said, quality control is everything. a lot of hondas and toyotas sold in north america are built in north america and have been for years.

Edited by user on November 14, 2009 at 10:03 PM

hdoolabh

November 20, 2009 6:41 PM

Does this mean the C Class will stop being produced in South Africa?

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