Mercedes Contracts with Valmet to Meet A-Class Demand

MercedesMercedes-BenzGermany, 1924 > present197 models
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cannot keep up with demand for the new A-ClassMercedes-Benz A-Class Gen.3 [W 176]Germany, 2012 > present33 versions
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. The car has only been in production for a few weeks, but from pre-orders Mercedes can tell that it is going to be a big hit. Mercedes has contracted with Valmet in Finland to produce 100,000 extra A-Class models between 2013 and 2016. 

“Our new compacts are so popular with our customers that the Rastatt and Kecskemét plants are completely utilized. We thus signed Valmet as an experienced production specialist who will provide us with additional A-Class capacities as of 2013," said Daimler Board Member Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard.

According to Dr. Bernhard, the Rastatt and Kecskemét are at complete capacity, and it is starting a third shift at Rastatt in the fall. Still, Mercedes cannot keep up with demand for the A-Class.

The new A-Class does not go on sale until September but production has already begun. Mercedes says it has received over 40,000 orders for the new car already. In Germany, the base A-Class is the A180 BlueEfficiencyMercedes-Benz A 180 BlueE...Germany, 2012 > present5 photos
for €23,978.50.

Mercedes is in the process of growing its compact car lineup. It will begin building a compact SUV based on the A-Class platform at Rastatt next year, and Kecskemét will build a compact four-door coupe in the near future. It is also considering building compacts specifically for the Chinese market in Chinese factories.