Fujian Benz

Fujian Benz Automotive Co., Ltd.
Native name
福建奔驰汽车有限公司[1]
Company typeJoint venture
IndustryAutomotive
FoundedJune 2007; 17 years ago (2007-06)
Headquarters
Fuzhou
,
China
Area served
China
Key people
Kong Xiao (President and CEO)
ProductsMinivans, Multi Purpose Vehicles and Special Purpose Vehicles
OwnersMercedes-Benz Group
Fujian Motors Group
China Motor Corporation
Number of employees
1,600 (2016)
Websitefujianbenz.com

Fujian Benz Automotive Co., Ltd., formerly Fujian Daimler Automotive Co., Ltd., is a light commercial vehicle manufacturing company based in Fuzhou, and a joint venture between Daimler Vans Hong Kong Limited (a joint venture of the Mercedes-Benz Group and China Motor Corporation of Taiwan), BAIC Motor Corporation Limited (35%), and Fujian Motor Industry Group Co., Ltd (15%).

History

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The company was founded in June 2007 as Fujian Daimler Automotive Co. by Fujian Motor Industry Group (50%), Daimler (34%) and China Motor Corp. (16%).[2] It began construction of an assembly plant in the Qingkou Investment Zone, Fúzhōu in October 2007.[3] The 660,000 square meter plant would cost over €200 million (US$284 million).[2] With 2,800 employees, the plant has a capacity of 40,000 vehicles a year.[4] For establishing of the joint venture and building the plant facilities, Fujian Motor Industry Group Company and the Hong Kong Daimler Vans Limited invested a total of €434,600,000.[citation needed]

Series production of Fujian Daimler's first product range, the Viano transporter, began in April 2010.[5]

In November, 2011, Sprinter was launched. Fujian Daimler changed its name to Fujian Benz in March 2012 for better brand recognition among Chinese consumers as Daimler is not as well known as Benz.[6][7]

In March 2013 Fujian Benz opened a new product development center in Fuzhou, constructed at a cost of around RMB 500 million (approximately €60 million).[8][9]

In Mar. 2016, Fujian Benz launched three V-Class models, including V260, V260 Exclusive and V260L Exclusive.[10]

Operations

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Fujian Benz covers 660,000 square meters, including 330,000 square meters for Phase I and a construction area of 162,000 square meters. The company currently employs 1,600 workers.

The annual production capacity of Phase I is 40,000 units.[10][dead link] At one time, China was the largest market of the Viano.[7]

At its production plant in Qinkou, Fujian Benz operates a product development center which covers approximately 11,000 square meters of built-up area, as well as a 53,000 square meter proving ground including a 1,400 meter circuit.[9][dead link] In an industrial park adjacent to the Qinkou production plant, Fujian Benz operates an EMC lab, an exhaust gas test lab, and a chassis dynamometers facility, which cover a combined built-up area of around 8,000 square meters.[9][dead link] The product development center, with a total investment of 500 million rmb, was put into operation in 2013.[10][dead link]

Current production

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Fujian Benz currently produces the following vehicles:[11]

  • Mercedes-Benz Vito
    Mercedes-Benz Vito
  • Mercedes Benz V-Klasse
    Mercedes Benz V-Klasse
  • Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
    Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Former production

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References

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  1. ^ "国家企业信用信息公示系统".[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b "Daimler starts building China van plant_Auto—China Economic Net". en.ce.cn. 23 Oct 2007. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  3. ^ "Daimler Starts Building $284 Million China Van Plant". Bloomberg. 23 October 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  4. ^ "Daimler launches US$300m joint venture in Fujian". www.chinadaily.com.cn. 23 Oct 2007. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Fujian Daimler produces first Mercedes-Benz Viano". Gasgoo. 17 April 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  6. ^ "Chinese JV Fujian Daimler to change name to Fujian Benz". Gasgoo. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Daimler's van making JV changes its name to Fujian Benz". flanders-china chamber of commerce. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  8. ^ "Daimler JV Opens Van Product Development Center in China". Fox Business. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  9. ^ a b c "Daimler van joint venture Fujian Benz Automotive Corporation opens new product development center in China". Daimler. Retrieved 6 April 2013. [dead link]
  10. ^ a b c "Fujianbenz official website". Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  11. ^ "Foreign Brands". China Auto Web. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
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