Product offensive - A 45 AMG: First high-performance vehicle built at Rastatt

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Start of production for the first high-performance vehicle at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt: after the A-Class and B-Class, the first AMG model in the history of the factory has left the assembly left recently. "The A 45 AMG is the sportiest car that ever rolled off the line here. We are very proud to be constructing high-performance vehicles in Rastatt. The team has exemplary integrated the AMG model into the ongoing production of the A-Class. For us, this milestone marks the start of a new era at the Rastatt site," said Peter Wesp, Head of Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt.

In the development of the A 45 AMG, the experts from Affalterbach have contributed with their extensive experience in motorsport and the construction of powerful high-performance cars. Thus the A 45 AMG will receive the typical AMG DNA and the brand promise of "Driving Performance" perfectly embodied. This is ensured with the implementation of the AMG-specific powertrain with the performance-oriented all-wheel drive AMG 4MATIC, the AMG sports suspension with independent front and rear suspension and the exclusive interior and exterior features. The Rastatt team has smoothly integrated the production of the volumes of the A-Class AMG model together with the AMG counterparts so that the assembly line is shared with the standard A-Class model. The A 45 AMG boasts a maximum output of 265 kW (360 hp). With the performance-oriented AMG 4MATIC all-wheel drive system, it sets new standards in its segment. The acceleration from zero to 100 km/h takes just 4.6 seconds, while top speed reaches 250 km/h (electronically limited). The high-performance hatchback is designed to appeal to new customers. The target group is between the ages of 30 and mid 40, which is a tad younger than the usual AMG customers.

The A 45 AMG is powered by an AMG 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged engine, which has been launched into production two weeks ago in the MDC engine plant in Kölleda. There, all BlueDirect four-cylinder engines for the A-Class and B-Class are built as well. Especially for the production of the new AMG engines, a new assembly line was set up at the plant according to the traditional AMG philosophy "one man, one engine". From now, the A 45 AMG can be ordered by clients. Starting June, the first units will be handed over to customers.

For the production of the new compact models in Rastatt, Daimler is investing 1.2 billion euros. 600 million euros were invested in a first stage, including the construction of a new body shop. A further 600 million euros follow in 2012 and 2013 for the second stage. These new investments will be including the reconstruction of the assembly line and the corresponding plant structure.

About the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt

The Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant employs about 6,500 people, making it the largest private employer in the region. In 2012, over 200,000 compact vehicles rolled off the assembly line at the site. The new generation of Mercedes-Benz premium compact cars will include, in addition to A-Class and B-Class, three sporty, emotional models, including a coupe and an SUV. The five models of the new compact car will be produced in the production network of the Rastatt plant, and from the end of March 2012, at the newly opened plant in Kecskemét, Hungary. Rastatt is the competence center for the production of the A-Class and B-Class. In late 2013, the compact SUV under the name GLA-Class will enter production stage here.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Production anniversary at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt: Employees build the three millionth compact vehicle

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Solemn anniversary at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt: today, the three millionth compact vehicle in the history of the site was produced. A customer from Cologne receives the milestone vehicle, an A 200 BlueEFFICIENCY in calcite white paint job. "Since 1997, we are building compact cars here at Rastatt and now the three millionth unit. This figure speaks for our work and for the great experience of our employees," said Peter Wesp, head of the Mercedes-Benz Rastatt facility. "The outlook in the premium compact segment is very optimistic. Over the next decade, we expect an increase of over four million units, making the new compact class vehicles play a central role in our growth strategy - Mercedes-Benz 2020." For the production of the new compact models in Rastatt, Daimler invested a total of around 1.2 billion euros. This year, 500 new permanent jobs have been created so that the plant employs now more than 6,500 people.

The compact vehicles from Rastatt

In 1997, Mercedes-Benz launched the A-Class, which created the vehicle class of premium compact cars. 1,100,000 A-Class cars were have been sold up to 2004, when the second generation was introduced. Over one million vehicles from the next generation were produced at Rastatt. In 2005, the first generation B-Class followed, which was delivered to more than 700,000 customers all around the world within six years.

In September 2011, the new B-Class was the first model of the new compact class generation to enter production at Rastatt. In July 2012, series production of the new A-Class started. Both models record high customer demand: more than 100,000 B-Class vehicles are already on the roads, and for the new A-Class there are already nearly 90,000 orders just five months after the launch. The new generation of Mercedes-Benz premium compact cars includes, in addition to A- and B-Class, three more sporty, emotional models, including a coupe and an SUV. The five compact models will be produced in the production network of the Rastatt plant and at the new plant in Kecskemét, Hungary, which was opened up at the end of March 2012. Three of the five models, comprising the new A- and B-Class and, in the future, also the compact SUV will be assembled at Rastatt. The B-Class is currently being manufactured at both sites.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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High demand for new compact model: Additional shift for the assembly of the new A-Class at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt

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For Mercedes-Benz, the launch of the new A-Class was the most successful premiere in history. Since sales release in June, more than 70,000 orders have been received. Due to the positive response, the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt starts up the installation on a three-shift operation beginning this week.

"We have expanded our full-time work force by 500 permanent staff and are now well positioned to deliver the cars to our customers as soon as possible. After the successful launch, we are now producing in three layers so that we can build more A-Class vehicles for our customers," said Peter Wesp, head of the Mercedes-Benz Rastatt Plant. Thus, this facility, as well as its sister plant in Kecskemét, are fully occupied with the production of the new compact models. In order to provide additional capacity for the A-Class, Daimler has also commissioned the Finnish supplier Valmet Automotive with the production of more than 100,000 units between 2013 and 2016.

The Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant employs more than 6,500 people. The new generation of Mercedes-Benz premium compact cars includes A-and B-Class three more sporty, emotional models, including a coupe and an SUV. The five models of the new compact car will be produced in the production network of the Rastatt plant and the new plant in Kecskemét, Hungary. A-and B-Class, as well as the compact SUV will be built at Rastatt. For the production of the new compact car in Rastatt, Daimler invested a total of around 1.2 billion euros.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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First new A-Class model delivered at the Mercedes-Benz Customer Center in Rastatt

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The first new A-Class from Mercedes-Benz goes to a customer from Esslingen. Waldemar Epple, director of the Mercedes-Benz Customer Center in Rastatt (MCC), Germany, handed over the keys for a A 180 BlueEFFICIENCY hatchback in jupiter red exterior paint finish. The vehicle features the "Urban" trim line and the Night Package, which gives it a particularly sporty and expressive character. Recently, the new A-Class won AUTO BILD Design Award 2012 for Germany's most beautiful vehicle.

"Even before the launch, over 50,000 pre-orders for the new A-Class were handed in. Now we have started the compelling delivery of this model - and look forward to meeting many collectors," said Epple.

The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class

With the new A-Class, Mercedes-Benz sets new standards in the compact segment: very emotional design, dynamic thanks to the powerplants ranging from 80 kW (109 hp) to 155 kW (211 hp), high efficiency with emissions from 98 g CO2/km and the best in class drag coefficient of 0.27. The A-Class also underlines that safety at Mercedes-Benz is no question of price - including the radar-based assistance system COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST as standard equipment. The prices for the A 180 BlueEFFICIENCY start at 23,978.50 euros (incl. 19% VAT) in Germany.

The Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt

The Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant employs more than 6,100 people, and this year added 500 new permanent jobs. The new generation of Mercedes-Benz premium compact cars includes the A- and B-Class models, as well as three sporty, emotional models, including a coupe and an SUV. The five models of the new compact lineup will be assembled in the production network of the Rastatt plant and at the new plant in Kecskemét, Hungary, which was opened up at the end of March 2012. The A- and B-Class, together with the compact SUV, will be built at Rastatt.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Start of production at the Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant - Offensive in the Compact Segment: First New A-Class Rolls Off the Production Line

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In the light of the motto "the pulse of a new generation", the first new Mercedes-Benz A-Class rolled off the production line today at the Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant. The A-Class is the company's second new compact model, following the start of production of the new B-Class at Rastatt in September 2011 and at the new Mercedes-Benz plant in Kecskemét, Hungary at the end of March 2012.

"This start of production marks a further milestone in our Mercedes-Benz 2020 growth strategy. The A-Class represents our offensive in the compact segment", said Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. "And there is more to come: The compact SUV will be the third model we will build here in Rastatt."

Dr Wolfgang Bernhard, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Manufacturing & Procurement Mercedes-Benz Cars & Mercedes-Benz Vans: "We are on a roll in manufacturing as well: Hard on the heels of the new B-Class, we are now producing the totally new A-Class for our customers. Thanks to the joint architecture, we can flexibly produce all models of our new compacts on the same production line at the respective site."

Daimler is investing a total of around €1.2 billion in the Rastatt plant for the production of the new compact models. In a first wave of expansion, €600 million were used e.g. for the construction of a new bodyshell building and for tools, and a further €600 million will follow this and next year for a second wave of expansion. These new investments are slated for modifications of the assembly and corresponding equipment installations in the bodyshell production.

Another €400 million will be invested in the powertrain plants this and next year for production of components solely used in the new compact models. A total of 900 new permanent jobs have been created at Rastatt since 2010, 500 of them in 2012 alone. The plant is thus responding to the ongoing high demand, and continues to grow with the new generation of compact cars.

Since the start of sales in mid-June more than 40.000 customers have already ordered the new A-Class. More than 70.000 vehicles of the new B-Class were delivered to customers since its market launch in November 2011, "Demand for our premium compact cars is so strong that we are going to to introduce a third assembly shift in October 2012", said Peter Wesp, Head of the Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant. "Our team in Rastatt is doing a fantastic job, and we are very proud of their achievements." The number of trainee positions has been increased to 70 per year.

About the new A-Class

The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class sets new standards in the compact segment: exceptionally emotive in its visual design, dynamic with engine power ratings ranging from 80 kW (109 hp) to 155 kW (211 hp), highly efficient with emissions from 98 g CO2/km and a best-in-class drag coefficient value of 0.27. The new A-Class underlines at the same time that safety is not a matter of price at Mercedes-Benz – among others, the radar-supported COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST system comes as standard equipment. Prices in Germany start from €23,978.50 (incl. 19% VAT) for the A 180 BlueEFFICIENCY.

About the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt

The Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant was inaugurated in 1992. The first production model was the E-Class, made until 1996. Series production of the A-Class, which established the premium compact car segment, began in 1997. Unit sales of the A-Class reached 1.1 million until 2004, when the second generation was introduced.

The team at Rastatt has now made more than a million units of the successor generation. 2005 saw the arrival of another model, the B-Class, over 700,000 of which were supplied to customers all around the world over the following six years. The Rastatt plant is the company’s centre of competence for Mercedes-Benz compact cars.

In September 2011 the new B-Class went into production at Rastatt as the first of the new compact car models. The new generation of compact cars comprises the A-Class, the B-Class and a further three sporty and emotive vehicles, including a coupé and an SUV. These five new compact models are built in a production network of the Mercedes-Benz plants in Rastatt and Kecskemét, Hungary, which opened at the end of March 2012. The Rastatt plant will produce three of the five models: the new A-Class, the B-Class as well as the compact SUV.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt: Farewell to the last A-Class of the second generation

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Since the production started back in 2004, more than one million vehicles of the current A-Class model generation (W 169/BR 169) have come out the assembly line at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt. The final car of this series, an A 180 CDI in polar silver, has recently left the factory. The vehicle will arrive at a customer in France. "We are very proud of the success story of the A-Class we will continue to write with the next series. Preparations for the start of the new A-Class are already in full swing.", said Peter Wesp, head of the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt.

The new A-Class

In March this year the new A-class celebrated the world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show. Up to 18 inches lower than the previous model, the new generation displays a sporty, confident character. As the world's first automobile manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz has completely integrated digital and phone communication and functionality in the telematics concept of the W 176 generation. The new petrol and diesel engines are now more fuel efficient and meet any power requirements. They can be combined with the new six-speed manual gearbox or with the optional automatic transmission with double clutch transmission 7G-DCT. The new A-Class is the first car in its segment to feature a standard radar-based collision warning system with ADAPTIVE BRAKE ASSIST, which decreases the chances of a collision. The first units will be delivered to clients beginning with September 2012.

About the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt

The Rastatt plant was officially inaugurated in 1992, with the E-Class being the first model to be assembled there until 1996. From 1997 onwards, the facility was established as a production site for the new A-Class. Prior to 2004, when the second generation came into force, around 1.1 million compact Mercedes-Benz premium models were sold to clients all over the world. Moreover, the current A-Class series appealed to more than one million customers and, in addition, beginning with 2005, the B-Class was also introduced in the production portfolio of the Rastatt factory. This niche vehicle, marketed as a compact sports tourer, became instantly popular, with total sales exceeding 700,000 units. Therefore, the Rastatt plant is unanimously recognized as a competence center for the construction of compact cars from Mercedes-Benz.

Starting September 2011, the new B-Class (W 246) was introduced in the range. Currently, preparations are being made at Rastatt to welcome the new A-Class, which is celebrating the world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2012. The new generation of Mercedes-Benz premium compact cars further includes three more sporty, emotional models, including a coupe and an SUV. The five new models will be built in a comprehensive production network comprising the Rastatt plant and the new facility in Kecskemét, Hungary. Three of the five models will be assembled at Rastatt.

Credits: Daimler AG

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