tommy

You have to be careful with that, though. The screens are, for the most part, made in Japan, as the Japanese factories are still the most cost-effective and use the largest panes of glass.

So, as with anything these days, it's a global effort, which as you say, generally tends to depend on the standards of the company, not necessarily country of origin, manufacture, assembly, whatever.

anonymousmoose

True, all the parts on my w203 say 'Made in Germany' But they must be assembled in South Africa.

Glyn M Ruck

South African built cars are about 47% local content by weight - varies by model. So bodies, radiators, batteries, upholstery, exhaust, wheels, tyres, door panels, some suspension parts & some trim etc are local. The Engine, Drivetrain comes in a crate from Germany. With Benz, BMW, VW/Audi being so big here all with plants - many of the OEMS that supply them like Bosch, Continental & Behr etc. have local operations here as well to supply the industry. Same goes for Toyota, Nissan, Ford, GM etc. OE suppliers as well. MBSA is not a CKD operation.

Boom vang

as long as Valeo does not ship their stuff to your plants things will be good, The French Prince of Darkness, dethroning Lucas...as all the problems I've had are Valeo sourced parts or ones from France for some reason, but then again I had a Renault in an earlier life and never again

Glyn M Ruck

No Valeo crap here. All Bosch & Behr!

sure1

Hi Glyn, Just seen this thread. I hv not been active on this site lately.
My W203 mfg in 2007 was assembled in Indonesia. See pics attached.

Cheers
Sure1

sure1

Oops Glyn, Sorry. here are the pics.

Sure1

Glyn M Ruck

Thank you & interesting. Last time I was in the Indonesian plant was 2005 & they were building vans. I must now check Malaysia.

Jack_2001C240

I was in Penang, Malaysia in 2009 and there was Mercedes display at a higher end shopping mall, Gurney Plaza. The brochures for the C200K Elegance and C200K Avantgarde say they are locally assembled CKD or knock down kit models. They cost about double in US dollars what they would cost where I live in New York City. Probably more know since the Malaysian Ringit has risen against the US dollar. I plan to retire in Penang, but I would never buy a Mercedes there. I could probably get by on a Suzuki scooter like so many local residents do.

Glyn M Ruck

OK so they have a CKD plant there too now. Malaysia protects it's local car industry so imports are very expensive. Shows how quickly you get out of date when you retire

I love Penang. Used to stay there when visiting Perwaja Steel. Big customer of ours.

sure1

Hey Jack, Penang is currently a great place to retire, comparing surrounding locations. We go there mostly during our winter(Oz). In the last few years, it has a new state govt. Streets are cleaner and law & order improved. Great choice, Jack, not that I am biased. I was born in Penang.

Glyn, Yes, Penang is a lovely place, even more so lately, with a new state govt. So you have known Dato Eric Chia uh!. Great man during the era of Tun Dr Mahatir (ex Prime Minister of Malaysia).

Cheers

Sure1

Glyn M Ruck

Yes indeed ^

I've even had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Some might have disagreed with him on certain things but he did for Malaysia what Lee Kuan Yew did for Singapore.

Penang = great food!!!!! My good friend Gan Poh Tyan from KL knew all the good eating places where the locals go. Malaysia is a great country. Extremely well developed & had 100% employement in the days that I travelled there regularly.