Mercedes-Benz plans to build its GLK SUV in China as part its efforts to widen its share in one of the fastest-growing product segments in this country. As a joint venture with the Chinese firm Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. Mercedes has made the C- and E-class sedans in that country. In an interview with Automobilwoche, a sister publication of Automotive News, Europe Mercedes sales chief Joachim Schmidt mentioned production of the GLK compact SUV will be completed in a reasonable time frame for the Chinese market.
Mercedes sold 147,700 vehicles in China in the year 2010. This marked a 115 percent increase over sales figures in 2009. 12,500 GLK units were built in Germany and this number is expected to reach 300,000 units by 2015. China is likely to witness a significanmt growth in the SUV segment.
A forecasting institute IHS Automotive has predicted the figure of 586,000 as the sales figure of Mercedes in 2013, which currently in 2010 have been 408,000. It is possible that GLK units could be 17,000 units in the year 2013. The closest rival of Mercedes is Audi Q5 which would have sales of 39,000 units and BMW X3 would be 5,000 units. Mercedes is also planning to start an engine factory as part of their Daimler AG’s EUR3 billion (CNY26.8 billion) investment plans in China.
Source: 4wheelsnews
