Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd. is an automotive manufacturing company headquartered in

Beijing Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...

, China, and a

joint venture A joint venture (JV) is a business entity created by two or more parties, generally characterized by shared ownership, shared returns and risks, and shared governance. Companies typically pursue joint ventures for one of four reasons: to acce ...

between

BAIC Motor BAIC Motor Corporation Limited is a Chinese automaker headquartered in Beijing. The H shares (foreigner share in offshore market) of the company were traded in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. It was part of BAIC Group, itself a subsidiary of Beij ...

and

Mercedes-Benz Group Mercedes-Benz Group AG (formerly Daimler-Benz, DaimlerChrysler, and Daimler) is a German multinational automotive company headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is one of the world's leading car manufacturers. Daimler-B ...

. It was initially established in January 1984 as a joint venture with BAIC Motor of Beijing, China, and

American Motors Corporation American Motors Corporation (AMC; commonly referred to as American Motors) was an American automobile manufacturing company formed by the mergers and acquisitions, merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company on May 1, 19 ...

(AMC) of Michigan, USA; therefore named Beijing Jeep Corporation (). It was the first Chinese auto-making joint venture with a Western partner. The joint venture was unaffected by Chrysler's acquisition of AMC in 1987, Chrysler's merger with German automaker Daimler-Benz AG in 1998, and continued after DaimlerChrysler Corporation sold its Chrysler division to Cerberus in 2007.

History

The history of this company goes back to Beijing Jeep Corporation (BJC), which was the first Sino-foreign automobile joint venture in China. It became a prototype for future cooperative projects and BJC became a test case revealing problems, both political and economic, that would appear for other investors the Chinese hoped to attract. The current name, Beijing Benz, was established in 2005 and the enterprise now owned by Beiqi and

Daimler AG Mercedes-Benz Group AG (formerly Daimler-Benz, DaimlerChrysler, and Daimler) is a German multinational automotive company headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is one of the world's leading car manufacturers. Daimler-B ...

American Motors

Beijing Benz grew out of what was originally the Beijing Jeep Corporation (), China's first Sino-western automotive

having been established in 1984 with

. American Motors began negotiations in 1979 to sell its vehicles in China and gain access to then low-cost Chinese labor. The Chinese wanted more-modern automotive technology; Beijing Jeep suited the needs of both parties and produced the American Motors

Jeep Cherokee (XJ) The Jeep Cherokee (XJ) is a sport utility vehicle developed by American Motors Corporation (AMC) and marketed across a single generation by Jeep in the United States from 1983 (model year 1984) through 2001 — and globally through 2014. It was ...

. While talks began in the late 1970s, operation started in 1985. The initial investment by AMC was $8 million. Assembly of the Cherokee continued after Chrysler purchased American Motors as did production of the classic Beijing BJ212-based SUVs. Beijing Jeep has since become well known as an example of early

foreign direct investment A foreign direct investment (FDI) is an ownership stake in a company, made by a foreign investor, company, or government from another country. More specifically, it describes a controlling ownership an asset in one country by an entity based i ...

in China. 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.

Chrysler

When Chrysler purchased American Motors in 1987, 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 The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a range of mid-sized sport utility vehicles produced by American manufacturer Jeep. At its introduction, while most SUVs were still manufactured with body-on-frame construction, the Grand Cherokee has used a unibody ...

, 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. Domestic manufacture of Jeep-branded vehicles ceased in 2006. Newer Jeep models are now being produced at a joint venture between Guangzhou Automobile Group and

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA), now part of Stellantis, was an Italian-American multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of Car, automobiles, commercial vehicles, List of auto parts, auto parts and production systems. ...

, current owner of the Chrysler and Jeep brands, however.

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, with then German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in attendance at the 2004 naming ceremony. While Chrysler was removed from the company in 2009, it remained in its legal name 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. Incidentally, Daimler had previously cooperated with

FAW Group China FAW Group Corp., Ltd. (First Automotive Works) is a Chinese state-owned automobile manufacturer headquartered in Changchun, Jilin.Mercedes-Benz W123 The Mercedes-Benz W123 is a range of executive cars produced by German manufacturer Mercedes-Benz from November 1975 to January 1986. The W123 models surpassed their predecessor, the Mercedes-Benz W114, as the most successful Mercedes, selling ...

(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. A few dozen of the long wheelbase 230E (V123) were among the cars assembled. 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. Prior to 2010, the E-Class was assembled from

knock-down kit A knock-down kit (also knockdown kit, knocked-down kit, or simply knockdown or KD) is a collection of parts required to assemble a product. The parts are typically manufactured in one country or region, and then exported to another country or r ...

s with a low localization rate of about 30%. 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.

Operations

Beijing Benz has a production base at the Beijing Economic & Technological Development Area. Another plant opened in 2010. This opening may have increased potential Beijing Benz production capacity to 300,000 units/year. Such unit counts may consider engines and automobiles as discrete. A future engine-making production base is scheduled to become operational in 2013. While Beijing Benz does not produce all the Mercedes-branded autos sold on the Chinese market. Some Mercedes offerings, the S-Class for example, are imported by Mercedes-Benz (China) Ltd. As of 2009, Beijing Benz products, alongside those of several other makes, are purchased for use by Chinese State officials such as ministers and provincial heads. Sales in 2010 were expected to reach 50,000 cars, but total Mercedes-Benz sales in China including imports were near 150,000. In 2008, Beijing Benz's production capacity was estimated at 100,000 units/year although that figure may consider engines and vehicles as discrete, and the company was likely able to produce only half that number of whole vehicles.

Models

Current production

File:Mercedes-Benz A-Class Z177 2 China 2019-03-20.jpg, 2019–present
梅赛德斯-奔驰A级Z177
Mercedes-Benz A-Class Z177 file:Mercedes-Benz W206 IMG 5796.jpg, 2021–present
梅赛德斯-奔驰C级W206
Mercedes-Benz C-Class W206 File:Mercedes-Benz E-Class (E Ji) V214 03 China 2024-03-24.jpg, 2023–present
梅赛德斯-奔驰E级V214
Mercedes-Benz E-Class V214 File:Mercedes-Benz H243 IMG 5876.jpg, 2021–present
梅赛德斯-奔驰EQA
Mercedes-Benz EQA File:Mercedes-Benz X243 300 1X7A0422.jpg, 2021–present
梅赛德斯-奔驰EQB
Mercedes-Benz EQB File:Mercedes-Benz EQE 002.jpg, 2022–present
梅赛德斯-奔驰EQE
Mercedes-Benz EQE File:Mercedes-Benz X294 IMG 8682.jpg, 2023–present
梅赛德斯-奔驰EQE SUV
Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV File:Mercedes-Benz H247 IMG 2805.jpg, 2020–present
梅赛德斯-奔驰GLA H247
Mercedes-Benz GLA H247 File:Mercedes-Benz GLB X247 Sanming 01 2022-11-19.jpg, 2019–present
梅赛德斯-奔驰GLB
Mercedes-Benz GLB File:Mercedes-Benz X254 400e 1X7A6270.jpg, 2022–present
梅赛德斯-奔驰GLC
Mercedes-Benz GLC X254

Former production (Beijing Jeep)

File:Beijing BJ2021.jpg, 1984–2005
北京BJ213/2021/7250
Beijing BJ213/2021/BJ7250 file:BJ212inBeijingHappyVally.JPG, 1984–2005
北京BJ212
Beijing BJ212 file:Beijing Jeep 2500 Cherokee 01 China 2012-04-14.jpg, 2002–2007
吉普2500/2700
Jeep 2500/2700 File:Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ 01 China 2016-04-06.jpg, 2004–2005
吉普4000/4700
Jeep 4000/4700 File:Mitsubishi Pajero Sport front 20071102.jpg, 2003–2008
三菱帕杰罗运动
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport File:Mitsubishi Outlander CU 01 China 2014-04-17.jpg, 2003–2006
三菱欧蓝德经典
Mitsubishi Outlander

Former production (Beijing Benz)

File:Chrysler 300C Sanming 01 2023-02-08.jpg, 2006–2009
克莱斯勒300C
Chrysler 300C File:Chrysler Sebring JS China 2016-04-08.jpg, 2008–2010
克莱斯勒铂锐
Chrysler Sebring File:Mercedes-Benz E-Class W211 facelift China 2015-04-06.jpg, 2005–2009
梅赛德斯-奔驰E级W211
Mercedes-Benz E-Class W211 File:Mercedes-Benz E-Class V212 facelift 01 China 2014-04-14.jpg, 2010–2016
梅赛德斯-奔驰E级V212
Mercedes-Benz E-Class V212 File:2022 Beijing-Mercedes-Benz E300L (front).jpg, 2016–2023
梅赛德斯-奔驰E级V213
Mercedes-Benz E-Class V213 File:Mercedes-Benz C-Class W204 China 2012-08-09.jpg, 2008–2014
梅赛德斯-奔驰C级W204
Mercedes-Benz C-Class W204 file:Mercedes-Benz C-Class W205 63 AMG S 01 China 2016-04-14.jpg, 2014–2021
梅赛德斯-奔驰C级W205
Mercedes-Benz C-Class W205 File:2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 200 AMG Line CDi 4MATIC 2.1 Front.jpg, 2015–2020
梅赛德斯-奔驰GLA级X156
Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class X156 File:Mercedes-Benz GLC X253 01 China 2016-04-04.jpg, 2015–2022
梅赛德斯-奔驰GLC
Mercedes-Benz GLC X253 File:Mercedes-Benz GLK facelift China 2013-03-04.jpg, 2008–2015
梅赛德斯-奔驰GLK级
Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class File:Mercedes-Benz EQC N293 Sanming 01 2022-11-26.jpg, 2019–2023
梅赛德斯-奔驰EQC
Mercedes-Benz EQC

Mercedes-Benz production under First Automobile Works

File:Mercedes-Benz V123 250 Lang 01 China 2017-03-31.jpg, 1988–1989
梅赛代斯-奔驰230E Lang V123
Mercedes-Benz 230E Lang V123 File:Mercedes-Benz 200 W123 (8513416867).jpg, 1988–1989
梅赛代斯-奔驰200 W123
Mercedes-Benz 200 W123

References

External links

* {{Automotive industry in China American Motors BAIC Group joint ventures Car manufacturers of China Mercedes-Benz Group joint ventures Manufacturing companies based in Beijing Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1984 Chinese companies established in 1984 Chinese-foreign joint-venture companies 1984 in Beijing