Mercedes-Benz breaks ground for new passenger cars plant in Brazil

February 06, 2015

Mercedes-Benz breaks ground for new passenger cars plant in Brazil

6.2.15

Wheelsology

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Mercedes-Benz has celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for a new passenger cars plant in Brazil and thereby continues to further expand its global production network. The new Mercedes-Benz plant in Iracemapolis near Sao Paulo will start production of the C-class
in the first quarter of 2016, and production of the GLA compact SUV will follow in the middle of the year.

"Local production will even better allow us to tap the potentials of the emerging Brazilian market and to respond more flexibly to the wishes of our customers. In the first stage, we are aiming for an annual capacity of 20,000 vehicles. If the market will develop as hoped for, the plant has the potential for a further significant expansion in the future," said Markus Schafer, Member of the Divisional Board Mercedes-Benz Cars, Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management, on the occasion of the groundbreaking ceremony. The event was attended by numerous guests of honor from the areas of politics, administration, and economy as well as Philipp Schiemer, President of Mercedes-Benz do Brasil and CEO Latin America, and Dimitris Psillakis, Head of Passenger Cars Sales, Mercedes-Benz do Brasil.

Mercedes-Benz is investing a total of BRL 500-million in the Iracemapolis plant with an annual capacity of 20,000 vehicles. Until the start of production, about 600 new jobs will be created at the plant. In addition, some 3,000 jobs are expected to be generated in the region predominantly with suppliers and service providers.

"With the new Mercedes-Benz plant in Iracemapolis, we will be the only company producing the full vehicle range in Latin America - from passenger cars and vans to trucks and buses. The new plant in Iracemapolis is further proof to our commitment to Brazil. It also demonstrates we keep on investing to fulfil the wishes of our customers in the best possible manner. We are positive about the potentials of the Brazilian passenger cars market," said Philipp Schiemer.

In terms of selection and recruitment of its employees, Mercedes-Benz is cooperating with SENAI, the Brazilian national service for industrial training, which has more than 800 training centers nationwide. SENAI has set up a new training center in Iracemapolis that will start training in the first half of 2015 already. The recruitment process with a focus on the Iracemapolis region will start in the second quarter of 2015.