Benz
to Come to Beijing
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Benz CLK240 unveiled at the Shanghai
Auto Exhibition.
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Auto giants Volkswagen and BMW having purred
into China's sedan market, Daimler Chrysler recently announced
its plan to manufacture the Benz auto series here. Its partner-to-be,
the Beijing Automobile Co., has offered a package program that
also includes the possibility of producing autos for business
use. Daimler Chrysler is scheduling manufacture of the Benz
C and E series in China, and expects to achieve an annual output
of 20,000 to 30,000. Its sales are aimed at the upper and middle
Chinese social strata. Negotiations with the Beijing Automobile
Co., will take at least 2 years, so mass production will not
start until 2006 or 2007.
