Daimler’s Mercedes Benz brand opened its newest $1.07 billion Mercedes B-Class compact car manufacturing facility in Kecskemet, Hungary (about 56 miles southeast of Budapest). Daimler ceded its supremacy in luxury car manufacturing to BMW in 2005 and hoping to get back to the number one position soon.
Daimler expects to cut 1,480 Euros per car of production cost by moving into comparatively cheap labor market of Hungary. Manufacturing cost at the new facility will be 30 percent lower compared to a similar facility in Germany. This saving can be allocated elsewhere in the company to reach the goal of becoming the number one luxury car manufacturer again.
The new facility combined with an existing facility in Germany could produce 450,000 vehicles per year. This is equivalent to 35 percent of the total number of vehicles manufactured by Daimler. The new facility has the capability to manufacture other luxury lines produced by Mercedes Benz.
Sales of luxury vehicles are slowing year over year due to the worldwide recession. In order to compete with other industry leaders, manufacturers are looking for ways to cut cost and modernize manufacturing process and facilities.
Formula One Grand Prix schedule includes 20 races from Australian Grand Prix on March 18, 2012 to Brazilian Grand Prix on November 25, 2012. The Bahrain Grand Prix, the fifth race on the schedule, was held on April 22, 2012 and won by Sebastian Vettel sponsored by Red Bull.
This year’s Bahrain Formula One was involved with lots of controversy mainly outside the arena. Prior to the race, Bahrainis took to the street. Pro-democracy group in the country is in a battle with the regime for more participation in the government. The minority Sunni King, Hamad bin Isa AI-Khalifa’s regime was determined to conduct the race despite continued opposition and demonstration by the pro-democracy group. Uprising in Bahrain is an extension of what is known as “Arab Spring” which started in spring of 2011 in many parts of the Middle East.
Drivers expressed mixed reaction to the race as well as what happened outside the arena. Some were glad they didn’t attend the race at all. Most of the drivers were quiet and may decide not to attend future races in Bahrain if uprising continues. Grand Prix winner Vettel leads the leader board at this time.
It is one thing to ship smaller, more compact items to anywhere in the country, but when it comes to larger items, like a car, it is easy to feel lost trying to find a way to transport your other vehicle(s). Auto transport is a very particular type of shipping, and many companies that specialize in this sort of thing may only cater to certain kinds of customers. Some will ship to manufacturers and dealers while others may ship to individuals exclusively. Depending on your circumstances, you might have a hard time finding the transport for your needs, that is, if you do not know where to look.
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