Daimler AG lays the foundation for a van plant in China

Ceremony with Dr. Dieter Zetsche in Fuzhou

· New van plant will commence production from mid-2009
· Fujian Daimler Automotive Ltd to produce the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Vito/Viano

Fuzhou/China – As a ceremonial occasion, the start of construction work for the future production location of Fuzhou in the province of Fujian was celebrated in appropriate style. Fujian Daimler Automotive Ltd (FJDA), a company jointly owned by Fujian Motor Industry Group (FJMG), China Motors Corp (CMC) and Daimler AG, has thereby taken a further step towards a production start-up planned for mid-2009.
In the presence of representatives from the provincial government, Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG, Chairman Ling Yuzhang (FJMG) and Vice-Chairman Kenneth Yen (CMC) jointly laid the foundation stone for the new van plant in Fuzhou.
“With this foundation stone we are also laying a solid foundation for the future of Fujian Daimler Automotive Ltd. We are thereby creating the basis for Fuzhou to play a key future role in our growth strategy for vans in China and Asia”, Dr. Zetsche said during the ceremony.
The new plant is designed for a maximum production of 20,000 Sprinter and 20,000 Vito/Viano units per year. The location will be equipped with a bodyshop, paint shop and final assembly shop. The total built-on area of the new Daimler location in Fuzhou will be around 130,000 square metres. The workforce will increase from the current 280 employees to 2800 when production commences.