Beijing Benz

American Motors

Beijing Benz grew out of what was originally the Beijing Jeep Corporation, China's first Sino-western automotive joint venture having been established in 1984 with American Motors Corporation.[8]

American Motors began negotiations in 1979 to sell its vehicles in China and gain access to then low-cost Chinese labor.[10] The Chinese wanted more-modern automotive technology; Beijing Jeep suited the needs of both parties and produced the American Motors Jeep Cherokee (XJ) in Beijing.[10] While talks began in the late 1970s, operation started in 1985.[11] The initial investment by AMC was $8 million.[12] Assembly of the Cherokee continued after Chrysler purchased American Motors as did production of the classic Beijing BJ212-based SUVs.[10]

Beijing Jeep has since become well known as an example of early foreign direct investment in China.[13] Its pitfalls and successes are pored over in case studies, and such academic reports sometimes compare the marketing strategy of Beijing Jeep with that of Shanghai Volkswagen, another early Sino-foreign joint venture.[14]

Chrysler

When Chrysler purchased American Motors in 1987,[15] its Jeep brand came with an unexpected boon, Beijing Jeep. A few Chrysler models were subsequently added to the Chinese company's product line including the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, and the Mitsubishi Outlander, as well as some Beijing Jeep-branded, locally developed vehicles. Chrysler no longer had any ownership in Beijing Jeep as of early 2009 due to the failure of its attempt to acquire the maker of Mercedes-Benz models. That German company, Daimler, kept the profitable China manufacturing operation for itself once it was clear the merger was a failed prospect.[16] Domestic manufacture of Jeep-branded vehicles ceased in 2006.[17] Newer Jeep models are now being produced at a joint venture between Guangzhou Automobile Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, current owner of the Chrysler and Jeep brands, however.[18]

Daimler AG

During Chrysler's short-lived partnership with Daimler AG, maker of Mercedes-Benz cars, production at Beijing Jeep was expanded to include Mercedes-Benz-branded products. Its legal name was changed to Beijing Benz-DaimlerChrysler Automotive Co Ltd,[8] with then German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in attendance at the 2004 naming ceremony.[8] While Chrysler was removed from the company in 2009, it remained in its legal name[16] for several more years.

Mercedes-Benz was firstly involved in a short lived joint venture from 1987 until 1988 with FAW (First Automobile Works) where 828 vehicles were produced consisting of the Mercedes-Benz (W123) 200 and 230E Lang, most of which were made from CKD kits.[19] Incidentally, Daimler had previously cooperated with FAW Group to produce the then-recently discontinued Mercedes-Benz W123 (200 and 230E) sedans although these did not prove popular. Between January 1988 and sometimes in 1990, a mere 828 units were assembled in Changchun most of which were 230s.[20][21] A few dozen of the long wheelbase 230E (V123) were among the cars assembled.[21]

It was later established in August 2005 where Mercedes Benz was reintroduced to the Chinese market as Beijing Benz and assembled its first car, a Mercedes-Benz E-Class in December 2005.

The company started producing the Mercedes-Benz E-Class locally in 2006 and the C-Class in 2008. Manufacture of Chrysler-branded models continued until at least 2008. This included the 300C and Sebring, which were both locally produced and imported.[22]

Prior to 2010, the E-Class was assembled from knock-down kits with a low localization rate of about 30%.[23]

Shortly afterwards, in 2017, Beijing Benz began manufacturing 58% of the parts for the Mercedes-Benz GLA, Mercedes-Benz GLB and Mercedes-Benz GLC in China for those parts to be exported afterwards for assembly.

As well as Beijing, there is also a subsidiary in Fuzhou, Fujian under the name Fujian Benz established in 2007 where they have produced light commercial vehicles such as the Vito since April 2011 and the Sprinter in November 2011. The Viano commenced in the same month as the Vito and ended production in April 2015. The V-Class was launched in March 2016.

Since the 2014 sales of Chrysler and Jeep to FIAT, the Jeep-like vehicles and their derivatives have been produced by the BAIC subsidiary Beijing Automobile Works Co., Ltd. (BAW).

As of 2016, Beijing Benz assembles and manufactures the Mercedes-Benz E-Class (long wheelbase), and C-Class in China.[24]

Current production

Former production (Beijing Jeep)

Former production (Beijing Benz)

Mercedes-Benz production under First Automobile Works