Mercedes 2015 Annual Report Download - page 157

164 C | THE DIVISIONS | MERCEDES-BENZ CARS
be able to address customer requirements in the country
in an even more targeted manner in the future. During the year
under review, we significantly improved our market position
in China, especially in comparison with our main competitors.
All in all, we were able to increase sales of Mercedes-Benz
brand vehicles by 41% to 387,400 units, although the overall
car market grew at a much slower pace. Additional sales
momentum was generated in China by our new SUVs, as well
as by the new C-Class, which along with a long-wheelbase
variant is now also available in a sporty version with the short
wheelbase. A total of 250,200 of the vehicles we sold in
China during the reporting year were manufactured locally at
facilities operated by our BBAC joint venture (2014: 145,500).
Mercedes-Benz wins numerous awards
The Mercedes-Benz brand once again made a big impression
on award juries and readers of various automotive magazines
in 2015. The outstanding design of Mercedes-Benz vehicles led
to many awards, including three first-place finishes for the
CLA Shooting Brake, the GLE coupe and the Mercedes-AMG GT
in the Auto Bild Design Award competition – and an impressive
sixth consecutive overall victory in this contest. The fact that
the most beautiful automobiles are built by Mercedes-Benz is
also underscored by awards for the GLE coupe and the
Mercedes-AMG GT, as well as the Autonis readers’ design brand
of the year award from the magazine auto motor sport. The
SUV models from Mercedes-Benz also performed well in award
competitions in 2015. The brand’s SUVs were nominated ten
times in six categories and came out on top six times. In addition,
more than 110,000 readers of auto motor sport chose the
Mercedes-Benz aims for top quality at all production locations
and also seeks to ensure it can respond quickly to market
fluctuations and changed customer requirements. Within the
framework of Industry 4.0, we are working intensely on the
creation of “smart factories” that stand out through their resource
efficiency, as well as their ability to make rapid adjustments
and integrate customers and partners into value creation pro-
cesses. Connected production systems, a completely digital
process chain, the intelligent use of production data and new
models for human-machine cooperation will make manu-
facturing even more flexible and efficient in the future. At the
same time, we are optimizing our employees’ workstations
on the basis of ergonomic criteria and creating the conditions
necessary for successful intergeneration cooperation in
our production organization.
15 new models for the Chinese market
In 2015, we renewed and expanded our range of products for
customers in China by offering 15 new or updated model
series. Important new products here are the GLA and GLE SUVs,
the Mercedes-Maybach and the new smart models. We also
added more than 50 new sales outlets to our sales network in
China, which now comprises approximately 500 dealerships
nationwide. With the start of compact-vehicle production in the
form of the GLA, the plant in Beijing has become the only
Mercedes-Benz facility in the world to manufacture both front
and rear-drive car models, as well as engines, at one site.
In October 2015, we began producing an additional volume
series – the GLC SUV – for the local market in China. Our
new research and development center in China ensures we will
Second generation in great shape: The Mercedes-Benz GLC with sensuous clarity and modern SUV esthetics and a classic off-road stance.