Mercedes-Benz is starting construction work for a new fully flexible passenger car plant, thereby strengthening Daimler's industrial commitment in Russia, which so far has concentrated on commercial vehicle production.

"Establishing a passenger car production in Russia is a strategic investment in an important sales market for Mercedes-Benz. We are extending our local footprint and, at the same time, strengthening our global competitiveness," said Markus Schäfer, Member of the Divisonal Board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production and Supply Chain, during the groundbreaking ceremony.

The new passenger car plant in the Moscow region is scheduled to start local production in 2019 beginning with the E-Class Sedan, which sets new standards as the most intelligent sedan in the business class with technical innovations such as partially automated driving.

The SUV models GLE, GLC and GLS will follow subsequently. In total, the company is investing more than 250 million euros in the location. Production will be managed by the newly founded company Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing RUS (MBMR), headed by Axel Bense.

"With the fully flexible production of the E-Class Sedan and the SUV models, we will produce our bestsellers for the regional market at the Moscovia plant. I am convinced that Axel Bense, who has many years of experience in the Russian market, will implement the project very successfully," Schäfer continued.

With a broad sales network and a large range of models, Mercedes-Benz 2016 was the automotive premium brand with the most registrations in Russia for the fourth year in a row. In the last ten years, the company has quadrupled its passenger car sales in Russia.

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