Mercedes-Benz plants prepared for largest model offensive with Next Level Production

Mercedes-Benz invests over €2 billion in European plants, launching Next Level Production to drive flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability for 40 new models.

Mercedes-Benz has announced the launch of the largest product campaign in its history. Over the next three years, the company plans to bring more than 40 new models to market. At the heart of this ambitious strategy lies "Next Level Production," a program designed to combine digitalization, automation, and sustainability across its global manufacturing network.

The first steps will be taken at the Bremen and Kecskemét plants. In the first quarter of 2026, production of the fully electric GLC will begin there – the first Core model built on the MB.EA architecture. By the second quarter, the C-Class with EQ technology will follow. A key feature of this approach is flexibility: electric, hybrid, and combustion models will roll off the same line. For the Chinese market, a long-wheelbase version of the GLC will be produced later at the Beijing plant.

More than two billion euros have been invested in European plants as part of the transformation. Thanks to the use of digital twins, reconstruction and conversion work was carried out efficiently, minimizing downtime and costs. Artificial intelligence solutions integrated into the MO360 ecosystem and the MB.OS platform further enhanced production capabilities, allowing different powertrains to be manufactured simultaneously on a single line.

Mercedes-Benz aims to reduce production costs by 10 percent by 2027. This will be achieved through digitalization, optimized logistics, and an increased share of low-cost country production, which is set to rise from 15 to 30 percent. Another notable step is the planned integration of humanoid robots developed with partner Apptronik, particularly for intralogistics tasks.

Sustainability remains a central pillar. Since 2022, the company’s plants have been operating with a net carbon-neutral balance. By 2030, more than 70 percent of production energy is expected to come from renewable sources, with a full transition targeted for 2039. Projects for wind farms in Papenburg and the Baltic Sea have already received official approval, clearing the way for construction.

"Next Level Production" is therefore more than a technological upgrade. It is a strategic signal that Mercedes-Benz is ready for a new era. With intelligent, resilient, and sustainable production, the company is positioning itself to respond quickly to market demands while leading the most extensive model offensive in its history.