Daimler is comprehensively modernizing the Mercedes-Benz plant in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim, and is transforming the location with its rich history into a center of competence for production ranging from highly efficient engines to alternative drive systems. At the same time, the company is investing about one billion euros in Untertürkheim this year.

The plant's management and its works council have agreed on a package of measures that will safeguard the location's competitive position and employment levels for years to come. The number of vocational training positions will also be increased by a total of 150 for five years starting from 2016.

This agreement will lead to cost savings in the range of hundreds of millions of euros until 2020.

"The transformation plan is a groundbreaking achievement for the Untertürkheim plant and its employees. We are not only improving our flexibility and efficiency, but also developing a plant with a tradition stretching back over 110 years into a high-tech location for CO2 technologies," said Markus Schäfer, Member of the Divisional Board Mercedes-Benz Cars, Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management.

The Mercedes-Benz plant in Untertürkheim with approximately 18,700 employees has been operating at high capacity utilization for years. Last year, Mercedes-Benz Cars as a whole set new records with over 1.75 million vehicles produced and more than 1.72 million sold. As part of its Mercedes-Benz 2020 growth strategy, Mercedes-Benz is continuing to plan for significantly rising production volumes in the mid-term, offering stable employment at its Untertürkheim plant for the future as well.

(Continued on the next page)