A forward wheel drive (FWD) car plant owned by Beijing Benz Automotive Co (BBAC) has been established following a launch ceremony held in Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA) on November 21, according to local media.

So far, BBAC has established Daimler's first factory with three platforms of forward wheel drive, rear wheel drive and electric vehicles. It also has an engine and power battery factory.

The new FWD car plant will be equipped with the latest information technologies with a fully digital value chain spanning the entire process of product design, R&D, logistics, production, quality and finance.

Once the customer's order arrives in the production system, a series of processes such as parts procurement, logistics, production planning, predictive quality assurance, and delivery planning can be triggered simultaneously.

Through digital synchronization, all the processes can be interconnected, ensuring that every vehicle can be delivered to customers in accordance with Mercedes-Benz's globally consistent quality standards and order requirements.

Also, advanced automation equipment and automatic operation of big data monitoring and analysis will reduce errors and defects in the production.

The company adopts a flexible production model. At present, BBAC is able to achieve mixed production of cars and SUVs on the same production line.

Based in the BDA, BBAC is a joint venture founded by BAIC Motor, Daimler AG and DGRC. The company currently produces Mercedes-Benz C-Class, long wheelbase E-Class and GLK SUV vehicles. The new plant extensions will accommodate the future production of new generation compact cars (NGCC) based on Mercedes-Benz front-wheel drive architecture.

A workshop of Beijing Benz Automotive Co [Photo/kfqgw.beijing.gov.cn]