• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Your Membership
    • Edit Your Profile
  • Services
    • Advertising
    • Case studies
    • Design
    • Email marketing
    • Lead generation
    • Magazine
    • Press releases
    • Publishing
    • Sponsored posts
    • Webcasting
    • Webinars
    • White papers
    • Writing
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • Cart
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Terms of use
  • Events

Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

  • News
  • Features
  • Sections A-Z
    • Agriculture
    • Aircraft
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Automation
    • Autonomous vehicles
    • Business
    • Computing
    • Construction
    • Design
    • Drones
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Engineering
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Humanoids
    • Industrial robots
    • Industry
    • Infrastructure
    • Investments
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Marine
    • Material handling
    • Materials
    • Mining
    • Promoted
    • Research
    • Robotics
    • Science
    • Sensors
    • Service robots
    • Software
    • Space
    • Technology
    • Transportation
    • Warehouse robots
    • Wearables
  • Video
  • Webinars
  • White papers
  • Press releases
  • Featured companies
    • AMD Xilinx
    • BlueBotics
    • Elite Robot
    • RGo Robotics
    • SICK Sensor Intelligence
    • Vicor Power
Bense, von Fritsch, Schaefer, Manturov, Ruess and Vorobyov attend a new Mercedes-Benz plant's cornerstone laying ceremony in the town of Esipovo outside Moscow

Daimler lays foundation stone for $280 million Mercedes-Benz plant in Russia

June 22, 2017 by Sam Francis

Bense, von Fritsch, Schaefer, Manturov, Ruess and Vorobyov attend a new Mercedes-Benz plant's cornerstone laying ceremony in the town of Esipovo outside Moscow
Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Rus CEO Axel Bense, Germany’s Ambassador to Russia Ruediger von Fritsch, member of the divisional board of Mercedes-Benz Cars Markus Schaefer, Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov, head of production planning of Mercedes-Benz Cars Rainer Ruess and Moscow Regional Governor Andrei Vorobyov attend a new Mercedes-Benz plant’s cornerstone laying ceremony in the town of Esipovo outside Moscow, Russia earlier this week. Reuters / Tatyana Makeyeva

By Jack Stubbs, Reuters

Daimler began construction of a new Mercedes-Benz plant near Moscow this week, following through on the first new investment by a major foreign automaker in Russia since Western sanctions were imposed three years ago.

Daimler said in February that it will invest more than $280 million in the factory, contrasting with widespread wariness among international investors after a prolonged downturn brought on by sanctions and a collapse in global oil prices.

But Russia’s economy has recently shown signs of recovery, while its car market is returning to growth after four years of decline. 

The interior of a Mercedes-Benz car is seen at a new Mercedes-Benz plant's cornerstone laying ceremony in the town of Esipovo outside Moscow
The interior of a Mercedes-Benz car is seen at a new Mercedes-Benz plant’s cornerstone laying ceremony. Reuters / Tatyana Makeyeva

Speaking at a ceremony to lay the factory’s first stone, Markus Schaefer, a member of the divisional board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, said Daimler had made the decision after a “very, very successful conversation” with the Russian government.

Moscow Regional Governor Andrey Vorobyov said President Vladimir Putin had personally signed off on the deal, allowing the regional government to offer unspecified conditions previously not available to foreign investors.

“Ultimately, we want to build cars where customers are,” Schaefer said at the construction site in the town of Esipovo, 60 km from Moscow. “We are confident in the long-term potential of Russia.”

Global automakers had viewed Russia as a promising growth market until the 2014 sanctions over Moscow’s actions in Ukraine and the economic downturn prompted companies to put projects on hold.

Ruess, von Fritsch, Manturov, Schaefer, Vorobyov and Bense attend a new Mercedes-Benz plant's cornerstone laying ceremony in the town of Esipovo outside Moscow
Head of production planning of Mercedes-Benz Cars Rainer Ruess, Germany’s Ambassador to Russia Ruediger von Fritsch, Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov, member of the divisional board of Mercedes-Benz Cars Markus Schaefer, Moscow Regional Governor Andrei Vorobyov and Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Rus CEO Axel Bense attend a new Mercedes-Benz plant’s cornerstone laying ceremony. Reuters / Tatyana Makeyeva

Car sales have more than halved from a 2012 peak of almost 3 million a year and US auto giant General Motors quit the market in 2015.

Though Mercedes’ Russian car sales dropped 11 percent last year to 36,888, according to the Association of European Business lobby group, Schaefer said he expects numbers to show an increase in 2017 and continue growing after the new plant opens in 2019. The company’s Russian car sales in May jumped 8 percent year on year.

The factory will employ more than 1,000 people working across a 85-hectare site to produce more than 20,000 Mercedes-Benz cars and SUVs a year.

Hoping to benefit from a future rebound in Russian car sales, some international manufacturers have recently started to strengthen their presence in Russia. Germany’s Volkswagen announced projects last week to boost its VW and Skoda brands as well as commercial vehicles.

(Editing by Tom Pfeiffer and David Goodman)

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Skype
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • Pocket

You might also like…

Filed Under: Industry, Manufacturing, News, Transportation Tagged With: automaker, car, cars, construction, daimler, factory, manufacturers, mercedes, mercedes-benz, moscow, motors, russia, russian

Join the Robotics & Automation News community

Primary Sidebar

Latest articles

  • The future of modern application development with .NET
  • Here are 3 Ways That You Can Use Baking Soda for Office Cleaning
  • How to Get a Crypto Trading Bot
  • Beyond the CMS Norm: Embracing Customization in Online Media Management
  • Boosting Growth: Exploring ERP Solutions For Small Businesses
  • Unveiling the Power of Apple Gift Cards: Your Comprehensive Guide
  • Optimizing Your Plumbing Business: SEO Best Practices for Plumbers
  • The Profit Potential of Auction Homes: A Comprehensive Guide for Real Estate Investors
  • Elevator Shoes: Get the looks you want
  • ReactJS vs. VueJS: Understanding the Differences

Most Read

  • Snapchat Plus Planet Order 2023 Explained
    Snapchat Plus Planet Order 2023 Explained
  • Why is Money Important in Our Lives?
    Why is Money Important in Our Lives?
  • Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
    Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
  • Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
    Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
  • The Future of Personal Computers: What to Expect in the Next Decade
    The Future of Personal Computers: What to Expect in the Next Decade
  • Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
    Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
  • Why is My Car Key Stuck in the Ignition?
    Why is My Car Key Stuck in the Ignition?
  • How to Perform a Network Security Risk Assessment
    How to Perform a Network Security Risk Assessment
  • Figure raises $70 million Series A to support commercialization of Figure 01 humanoid robot
    Figure raises $70 million Series A to support commercialization of Figure 01 humanoid robot
  • Scientists have found more water in space than they ever knew possible
    Scientists have found more water in space than they ever knew possible

Overused words

ai applications automated automation automotive autonomous business companies company control customers data design development digital electric global industrial industry logistics machine manufacturing market mobile operations platform process production robot robotic robotics robots safety software solution solutions system systems technologies technology time vehicle vehicles warehouse work

Secondary Sidebar

Latest news

  • The future of modern application development with .NET
  • Here are 3 Ways That You Can Use Baking Soda for Office Cleaning
  • How to Get a Crypto Trading Bot
  • Beyond the CMS Norm: Embracing Customization in Online Media Management
  • Boosting Growth: Exploring ERP Solutions For Small Businesses
  • Unveiling the Power of Apple Gift Cards: Your Comprehensive Guide
  • Optimizing Your Plumbing Business: SEO Best Practices for Plumbers
  • The Profit Potential of Auction Homes: A Comprehensive Guide for Real Estate Investors
  • Elevator Shoes: Get the looks you want
  • ReactJS vs. VueJS: Understanding the Differences

Footer

We are…

Robotics and Automation News was established in May, 2015, and is now one of the most widely-read websites in its category.

Please consider supporting us by becoming a paying subscriber, or through advertising and sponsorships, or by purchasing products and services through our shop – or a combination of all of the above.

Thank you.

Independent

Archivists

June 2017
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
« May   Jul »

Complex

Old-skool

This website and its associated magazine, and weekly newsletter, are all produced by a small team of experienced journalists and media professionals.

If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to contact us at any of the email addresses on our contact page.

We’d be happy to hear from you, and will always reply as soon as possible.

Future-facing

Free, fair and legal

We support the principles of net neutrality and equal opportunities.

Member of The Internet Defense League

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT