German carmaker Mercedes-Benz has reported production of more than 700,000 passenger cars during the first half of 2013, claimed to be the highest compared to the same period earlier.
During the first six months of 2013, the company had sold 694,433 vehicles, a 6.4% increase compared to the same period prior year.
Daimler Manufacturing and Procurement Mercedes-Benz Cars & Mercedes-Benz Management Board Member Vans Andreas Renschler said the company is planning for further growth.
"With an attractive offering of models and higher flexibility in production, we managed to build more vehicles in the first half of the year than ever before," Renschler said.
Under the Mercedes-Benz 2020 growth strategy, the Kecskemet plant began production of the new CLA coupe in January, while the new E-Class sedan and estate have started production at the Sindelfingen since March.
The manufacturer has agreed to start 21 special shifts in 2013 for the production of the A- and B-Class at the Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant in order to meet the increasing customer demands, while the Tuscaloosa plant is reported to have worked on 10 Saturdays to produce more SUVs.
According to the company, the plants in Bremen, Tuscaloosa, East London, South Africa and Beijing are getting ready to for the new C-Class, which is scheduled for launch in 2014.
