Mercedes-Benz says it has commenced production of its new C-Class sedan in Germany, with the plant in South Africa due to follow “shortly”.

Both the saloon and estate versions of the new C-Class have started rolling off the production line in Bremen, the lead plant in the global C-Class production network.

This will “shortly” be followed by start-ups at international locations in Beijing, China and East London, South Africa. In East London, both right- and left-hand-drive W206-generation sedan models will again be built for both the local market and worldwide export.

The South African factory has gained a new body shop system as well as “improved flexibility, efficiency and sustainability”. Mercedes-Benz says the East London facility’s new paint shop, meanwhile, “reduces energy consumption per vehicle by 25 percent”.

“With the start of production of the new C-Class, our global production network is once again demonstrating its great flexibility,” said Jörg Burzer, member of the Mercedes-Benz board responsible for production and supply chain management.

“Our teams at three plants on three continents have shown first-class co-operation with their ability to master the sequence of production ramp-ups. This is how our modern plants are able to produce outstanding vehicles like the new C-Class,” he said.

Revealed in February 2021, the new C-Class becomes the first Mercedes-Benz model series to feature a fully electrified line-up, with all variants employing an integrated starter-generator and 48 V technology.

With a length of 4 751 mm (up 65 mm) and a width of 1 820 mm (up 10 mm), the sedan is described as being “considerably larger” than its predecessors. The wheelbase has grown by 25 mm to 2 865 mm, with both the front and rear passengers benefiting from the extra space. Claimed luggage capacity matches that of the outgoing model at 455 litres.