Basic agreement reached regarding car project in China - Jürgen E. Schrempp: major success for both sides - Helmut Werner: we see ourselves as long-term partnersSindelfingen, July 12, 1995
The auspices for Chinese President Jiang Zemin's visit to Daimler-Benz are promising. A few hours before the visit, the Chinese and Mercedes- Benz negotiating delegations achieved a breakthrough which Daimler- Benz Chairman Jürgen E. Schrempp hailed as a "major success for both sides" when a basic agreement was reached with the South China Motor Corporation ("Nanfang") regarding the manufacture of a monospace saloon in China. The project - investment volume DM 1.4 billion - is the only large car project which the Chinese government intends to embark on before the year 2000. It will involve a production license and manufacturing of engines. In the longer-
term future, it is also planned to export these products to other Asian markets. Helmut Werner, President and CEO of Mercedes- Benz: "For us, the signing of this agreement demonstrates convincingly the confidence of our Chinese partners in the abilities of Mercedes- Benz. China has great economic prospects. We see ourselves as long- term partners." The second piece of good news is the basic agreement reached with Yangzhou Motor Coach Manufacturing Corporation regarding the production of bus chassis and bodies. Daimler-
Benz Chairman Schrempp declared himself delighted that Mercedes- Benz will be able to take part in this promising project. On Wednesday morning the Chinese President, himself an automotive specialist, called at the Mercedes-
Benz plant in Sindelfingen, the largest plant of the Daimler- Benz group, on his only visit to a production plant during his stay in Germany. The Chinese guest and his delegation were received by Daimler- Benz Chairman Schrempp and the President and CEO of Mercedes- Benz, Werner. In the "Kuppelsaal" at the Sindelfingen plant, Daimler-
Benz is presenting a range of products of the group which are of interest for the Chinese market, including C, E and S-class cars as well as commercial vehicles including the new coach. Also presented was the Family Car China project, commissioned by the Chinese government, which Mercedes- Benz is applying to build. Daimler-
Benz Aerospace (Dasa), a corporate unit of Daimler- Benz, sees China as one of the major growth markets of the future, whose requirements will result in sustained demand for aerospace products. Dasa has embarked on major new co-operative projects with Chinese partners. On May 15, Daimler- Benz Aerospace started work with Aviation Industries of China (AVIC) and Samsung Aerospace Industries Ltd. of South Korea on a feasibility study for a 100 - 120-Seater jet. Within the Aircraft division of Dasa, Fokker and Daimler- Benz Aerospace Airbus are taking part in this project. In the Space Systems division of Dasa too, there have been wide- ranging contacts between Daimler- Benz and China for many years. Dasa and the Chinese Aerospace Corporation (CASC) are channelling their experience in the field of satellite manufacturing into the joint venture "EurasSpace", founded in July 1994. The joint venture, in which each partner holds a 50 per cent stake, develops, builds and markets remote- sensing satellites, communication satellites and ground stations. From its rail vehicle sector, AEG Daimler-
Benz Industrie is displaying models of the Guangzhou metro, for which it co-ordinated development of the cars. Also on show are models of the 12X and 145 locomotives and the ICE high- speed train.
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