Mexico – The Cooperation Manufacturing Plant Aguascalientes (COMPAS), which is a 50:50 project between the two OEMs, will build next-generation premium compact vehicles for Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti. The companies are investing $1 billion for the construction and operation of the plant.
Located near the Nissan Aguascalientes factory, COMPAS will launch with a capacity of more than 230,000 units and will recruit a workforce of 3,600 by 2020. Production of Infiniti vehicles will begin in 2017, with Mercedes cars following in 2018. The JV partners stated that a high localisation rate is expected, increasing the Mexican supply base and generating 12,000 indirect jobs. They added that there is potential to expand capacity.
“This new joint plant will help both partners to serve their respective customers faster and with more flexibility. As Mercedes-Benz' first production location for compact cars in the NAFTA region, it will also significantly enlarge our footprint here,” commented Markus Schäfer, member of the divisional board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production and Supply Chain Management.
He added: “On our end, while sharing high efficiency and flexibility in the joint venture, we will add Mercedes-Benz-specific technology as well as further training and assistance by our global lead plant for compact cars in Rastatt, Germany. This proven approach will guarantee that our quality here in Aguascalientes will be the same as at the other locations of our global compact-car production network in Europe and China.”
COMPAS will be led by CEO Ryoji Kurosawa, together with CFO Uwe Jarosch and chief quality officer Glaucio Leite.