German automotive manufacturer Daimler has integrated sales units of its locally-produced and imported Mercedes-Benz cars into a single organization known as Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales Service.
The new organization, which is a 50-50 joint venture between Daimler and its Chinese partner, Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC), will oversee sales and marketing, aftersales, used-car and fleet sales, in addition to further growing the dealer network of Mercedes brand.
Daimler Board of Management chairman, Mercedes-Benz Cars head Dr. Dieter Zetsche said that China has been a key element of the Mercedes-Benz 2020 growth strategy.
"In order to consistently implement our growth strategy in this important market, we have also added a Board of Management position for China under the leadership of Hubertus Troska," Zetsche said.
"With the establishment of the new sales company, we are now increasing the effectiveness of our sales organization and setting a course for long-term and sustainable growth."
Prior to the formation of new organization, there were two sales channels in China incuding one for imported and the other for locally-produced cars.
The establishment of merged business is part of the automotive manufacturer's 'China Sales Initiative 2015' program, which is aimed at increasing its sales to 300,000 cars in China in 2015, about two thirds of which will be manufactured locally.
Daimler is also plannning to launch nearly 20 new models in China by 2015 as well as add 50 dealerships per year in the country.
