Old models of the highly coveted Mercedes E-class will be reincarnated by the Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co., Ltd. , also known as BAIC Group. BAIC is the fifth largest automaker in China and had been in the talks with Mercedez-Benz to develop, manufacture and sale the brand's vehicles in China. Now it's finally happening.
This collaboration with Mercedes and BAIC is expected to affect not only the other brands recent models but will also allow Mercedes cars to adopt fully to the local taste in China and may be a top seller.
The Mercedes E-class that will be built will be designed exclusively for the Chinese market and must faces restrictive rules imposed by the Chinese government to foreign manufacturers who want to manufacture in their country. The rule is to share the technology behind their cars in order for them to sell in China and be a part of the huge Asian country market.
With this partnership three models from the previous generation of Mercedes E-class brand will be brought to the Chinese market. The first model to come out of this collaboration could be the substitute for BAIC Senova D80, a large sedan sold only in the Chinese market and both its exterior styling and its interior finish is one step ahead of products to which we are accustomed to Chinese manufacturers.
The second model could be an SUV while the third one an MPV. All is planned to be launched in the domestic market in 2018.
These models are not already used by Mercedes on other countries however dont think of them as outdated or inferior in technology as these said models could be Mercedes selling models with quality design and an engine platform that will offer BAIC with good dynamics and fast cars.
The Mercedes E-class will feature a mechanical range that can be available in both diesel and gasoline. It will have a 1.8 liter displacement turbocharged V6 and will only be available in automatic as Chinese hugely prefer automatic cars than manual.
BAIC is currently enjoying a 43% increase in their sales compare to last year selling 232,000 vehicles on the first seven months of 2016. This is expected to jump even higher when the Mercedes E-class line goes out.
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