“This is a co-operative venture between the most senior automaker and the youngest … between the country with the best auto industry and the country with the biggest auto market,” BVD’s general manager Henry Li said at the Geneva Auto Show.

Daimler said its electric vehicle knowhow combined with BVD’s expertise in battery technology and e-drive systems will be “a perfect match.”

BVD, China’s second biggest domestic carmaker, unveiled its E6 people carrier for the first time in Europe during the show. It aims to market the car in Europe in 2011.

Source : Konaxis

With the rising demand in the first four months of 2009, the German auto maker is adding equipment to increase the manufacturing capacity at its plant in Beijing.

Hale however, declined to give the actual current or planned capacity at the plant, citing company policy.

“The plant was designed to be flexible enough to increase capacity based on demand,” he said. “As always, we build to demand, and we hope demand will continue to increase.”

The company can add capacity by altering work schedules or adding more equipment, he said.

Hale also declined to confirm the figures reported by Caijing Magazine that Daimler? annual manufacturing capacity China will increase from 25,000 units to 80,000 units.

Daimler operates the plant through a joint venture, BeijingBenz- DaimlerChrysler Automotive Ltd.

The plant produces C-Class Mercedes-Benz autos as well as Chrysler Sebrings and 300C luxury sedans. Retooling is ongoing in part of the manufacturing facility dedicated to the extended version of Mercedes-Benz E-Class vehicles.

Source : Konaxis