DaimlerChrysler opens first Chinese factory for Mercedes, Chrysler sedans

(15 Sep 2006) SHOTLIST September 15, 2006 1. Wide pull out of door opening on stage and car driving out 2. Pull-out of Mercedes E-class car driving on stage 3. Tilt down of man checking car on stage 4. Audience at ceremony clapping 5. Pull-out from heads of Daimler-Chrysler and leaders of the city of Beijing starting fireworks at ceremony 6. Close-up of front of Mercedes E-Class car 7. Chrysler 300C car 8. Wide of news conference 9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Dr. Dieter Zetsche, DaimlerChrysler Chairman of the Board of Management and Head of Mercedes Car Group: "DaimlerChrysler is strongly committed to this county, to this market for the long-term future. This, obviously as everybody knows, is one of the most dynamic, if not the most dynamic, countries and economies on the face of the earth. And DaimlerChrysler, we are very proud to play a role in contributing to China's economic growth and development." 10. Wide of assembly line of Mercedes cars 11. Close-up of car doors and workers 12. Close tilt-up employee working 13. Pan of employees 14. Employees working on car 15. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Dieter Zetsche, DaimlerChrysler Chairman of the Board of Management and Head of Mercedes Car Group: "The only difference ought to be the country of origin. As far as quality is concerned, there can only be one quality we are striving for with Mercedes or with Chrysler products around the globe." FILE: April 1, 2005 16. Wide of traffic on road 17. Close up of cars driving on road September 15, 2006 18. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Dieter Zetsche, DaimlerChrysler Chairman of the Board of Management and Head of Mercedes Car Group: "We clearly intend to fulfil the requirements of 40 per cent and as I said, just from an economical point of view, this will definitely make sense for us to leverage the cost opportunities in this country in those parts of the vehicle where the technology is available, add the quality levels which we need to build a first class Mercedes vehicle or a Chrysler vehicle as well." 19. Wide of assembly line of Chrysler cars 20. Close-up of rear part of a Chrysler car 21. Pan of Chrysler car being driven off line STORYLINE DaimlerChrysler AG formally opened its first factory in China to make Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler sedans on Friday, joining a rush of foreign automakers scrambling for a share of the booming Chinese car market. DaimlerChrysler said the factory in suburban Beijing is part of a 1.9 (b) billion US dollars investment in China. The company plans to expand its financing business and is talking to potential Chinese partners about possibly producing a lower-cost model for the US market, said chairman Dieter Zetsche. "DaimlerChrysler is strongly committed to this market for the long-term future," Zetsche said at a news conference. Earlier, Zetsche and other important officials, including the Communist Party secretary of Beijing, attended a grand opening ceremony with fireworks and traditional Chinese drummers and dancers. The German-US automaker is a latecomer to manufacturing in China, the world's second-largest car market after the United States, with seven (m)million new vehicle sales a year. General Motors Corporation, Volkswagen AG, Toyota Motor Corporation and other competitors already make cars in China. In contrast to General Motors and other automakers that have produced specially designed models targeted at the Chinese market, the Mercedes and Chrysler models to be made in Beijing are identical to those sold abroad. The company has not disclosed prices for the models made in Beijing. Dodge brand. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/c8f69220652df8dd47eb5a464b676660

Added 2 Aug 2026