Mercedes-Benz to boost production capacity at Kecskemét plant
Mercedes-Benz has plans to add extra capacity to its Kecskemét manufacturing plant, driven by increasing export volumes to China and the U.S. In 2014, the Hungary-based manufacturing unit produced 150,000 units of the three models currently made in Kecskemét.
Plant director Thomas Geier said boosting production capacity was necessitated by an increasing demand on models made in Kecskemét. The Mercedes-Benz CLA and Shooting Brake models, manufactured exclusively at the car maker's Hungarian plant, are increasingly popular in China and the United States.
He reminded that a decision was made in September 2014 to add a third shift in production and expand production capacity through making a better use of the plant's existing manufacturing equipment. Geier said decision makers believed should demand increase, the plant would be able to meet these requirements.
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| Mercedes to boost production at Kecskemét plant thanks to increasing market demand in China and the U.S. |
The Mercedes-Benz B-Class is produced in low volumes at the Kecskemét plant. Thanks to the car maker's shared production network, more units of the B-Class are manufactured in Rastatt, while the Kecskemét plant is focusing on the production of the two CLA models, Geier added.
"Our aim is to involve as many suppliers as possible in the production of new-gen front-wheel drive vehicles next year, which is why we may be helping suppliers relocate to the vicinity of the plant," Geier pointed out.
He added that all parts currently manufactured at the plant itself or sourced from Germany and other countries or local suppliers, will be sourced from the immediate vicinity of the plant.
He reminded that the production of B-Class models at the Kecskemét plant was launched exactly three years ago, on March 29, 2012. The second model from Kecskemét, manufactured since January 2013, is the CLA, while the third model made at the German premium car maker's Hungarian subsidiary is the CLA Shooting Brake, manufactured since January this year.
Geier added that the a third shift was introduced at Rastatt plant and the Kecskemét plant in October 2012 and May 2014, respectively. Thanks to the car maker's shared architecture, all models can be produced in variable order and quantity at each plant, conforming to current market demands, Geier emphasised.
Last year, 150,000 B-Class and CLA Mercedes were manufactured in Kecskemét, Hungary, while total production output has amounted to 300,000 units since its 2012 launch.
