International production start of the new GLC at three locations: The successful mid-size SUV will roll off the production line in Germany at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen and in future at the Sindelfingen plant. The start of production at the plant in Beijing (China) is also planned for this year.
The lead plant in Bremen has been responsible for the GLC and its predecessor models since 2008, while the GLC has been built in Beijing since 2011. Due to the popularity of the current segment leader in the mid-size SUV segment and the expected high demand for the new GLC, Sindelfingen has now been added as a third production site. The international ramp-up is taking place in close, digitally supported cooperation between the three plants. In the process, Mercedes-Benz’s highly flexible production system makes it possible to assemble different models and powertrains on a single production line. This enables the plant to adapt to changes in customer demand at any time.
The batteries for the plug-in hybrid models are supplied by the Mercedes-Benz Brühl battery factory as part of the Untertürkheim plant. A large number of components, including 200 battery cells, are assembled here into a highly efficient overall system.
Maximum transparency: Digital production ecosystem MO360
Thanks to comprehensive digitalisation with the Mercedes-Benz Cars Operations (MO360) production ecosystem and the consistent application of Industry 4.0 technologies, the Bremen, Beijing and Sindelfingen plants operate flexibly and highly efficiently. The MO360 digital ecosystem comprises a family of software applications connected by common interfaces and uniform user interfaces. At both the Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen and the Sindelfingen plant, for example, the “Digital Shop Floor Management” application is used in all trades – from the press shop to the body shop and surface finishing to assembly. This allows all production data to be tracked in real time. With the MO360 application QUALITY LIVE, the production of a vehicle can be checked in real time. QUALITY LIVE accesses all data collected during the production process.
Sustainable production
The company’s goal is to at least halve CO₂ emissions per passenger car over the entire life cycle by the end of this decade compared to 2020. The most important levers for this are the electrification of the vehicle fleet, charging with green electricity, improving battery technology and extensive use of recycled materials and renewable energies in production.
Mercedes-Benz has been producing CO2-neutrally in all of its own plants worldwide since this year and has also been purchasing electricity in Germany that comes exclusively from renewable sources since this year. A green power supply contract ensures the purchase of electricity from renewable energies at all times. In addition, the company aims to increase renewable energy at its sites. By the end of next year, solar plants with an output of more than 11 MWp are to go into operation. By 2025, Mercedes-Benz will invest a triple-digit million-euro amount in the installation of photovoltaic systems. By 2030, it is planned that more than 70 per cent of the energy requirements in production will be covered with renewable energies. This is to be achieved by expanding solar and wind energy at its own locations and by concluding further corresponding power purchase agreements.
