The GLC was first introduced in 2015 and is Mercedes best-selling model.
Offering plenty of style, comfort and performance this compact luxury SUV is one of the top choices in the segment.
If you’re considering the GLC as your next vehicle, you might be wondering where they are built.
We’ll cover that in this article, read on to find out…
Table of Contents
Where Are Mercedes-Benz GLC Being Made?
The Mercedes GLC is made in Germany at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen, in Finland at the Valmet Automotive plant in Uusikaupunki, in China at Beijing-Benz and in India at Mercedes-Benz India in Pune. These four plants are responsible for the world supply of GLCs. The USA bound GLC is made in India.
Contrary to popular belief German cars aren’t always built in Germany.
Depending on your location, your GLC will come from one of four Mercedes manufacturing plants.
Bremen Plant, Germany
Prior to 2018, the Bremen plant supplied North America with the GLC model, before production was moved to India.
The plant was founded in 1938 and currently employs around 12,500 staff members.
As the lead Mercedes-Benz plant, Bremen produces several models including the GLC and the GLC Coupe.
The plant manufactures up to 160 vehicles per day and is also the site of an off-road testing center for Mercedes-Benz cars.
Valmet Automotive Plant, Uusikaupunki, Finland
In 2015 Valmet Automotive was contracted by Mercedes-Benz to build the GLC in order to keep up with global demand.
The plant is the largest production facility in Finland and is part of Mercedes global expansion to become the no. 1 luxury carmaker.
The Valmet Automotive plant was founded in 1968 and employs around 1,500 car building professionals.
Mercedes-Benz India Plant, Pune
The Mercedes-Benz production facility in Pune was set up in 2009 and is spread over 100 acres.
The facility has the largest production capacity for any luxury carmaker in India and has been building the GLC for the US market since 2018.
Beijing Benz Automotive Co. China
- Has been producing the GLC since 2015
- Was established in 2005 and predominantly serves the Chinese market
- China was the largest sales market for the GLC’s predecessor, the GLK
- Is a joint venture founded by Daimler AG, Daimler Greater China Ltd. and BAIC Motor
- The plant is located in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area
Are Mercedes-Benz GLC for the US Market Produced in the US?
The Mercedes-Benz GLC for the US market is built at the Mercedes production facility in Chakan near Pune. The GLC for the US market was previously produced at the Bremen plant in Germany.
The first batch of India-made GLCs arrived in the USA in November 2018.
Although shipping costs from Pune are higher, it is more cost-effective to build the GLC here when compared to Bremen due to factors such as lower wages of Indian employees.
While the model is built in India, many of the parts and components are sourced internationally.
Mercedes has no plans to produce the GLC at its Alabama plant.
Where Are They Assembled?
The Mercedes GLC is mostly assembled at the factory where it was built, however depending on its final destination, there are additional plants located around the world that also play a role in assembly which help alleviate pressure from the main manufacturing plants.
Assembly is the final step in the manufacturing process during which all parts which have been sourced domestically and globally, are put together to form the final product.
The Mercedes GLC is assembled at the following locations:
- Germany: Bremen
- China: Beijing (Beijing Benz)
- India: Pune (Mercedes-Benz India)
- Finland: Uusikaupunki (Valmet)
- Indonesia: Bogor Regency (Mercedes-Benz Indonesia)
- Thailand: Samut Prakan (TAAP)
- Malaysia: Pekan (HICOM)
How Can You Check Where a Specific Mercedes-Benz GLC Was Made?
You can check the exact location of where your GLC was made by using the Vehicle Identification Number.
The VIN of the GLC can be found in the following places:
- Driver’s side dashboard, visible through the windshield
- Inside of the driver’s side door jamb
- Vehicle’s documents and registration papers
Once you have found the VIN number you can use an online VIN decoder, which will give you all the information regarding your GLC and its origins.
You can also decode your VIN manually:
The first characters indicate where the vehicle was made.
If your VIN starts with a ‘W’ it was built in Germany, if it was built in India it will start with MA-ME, MZ.
The 11th digit indicates where your vehicle was assembled.
For example, ‘F’ shows the car was made at the plant in Bremen, Germany.
You may also be interested in our article: How Long Do Mercedes GLC Last?
Are German-built Mercedes-Benz GLC Better than Indian-built Mercedes-Benz GLC?
While Mercedes-Benz does produce the GLC models in different locations across the world, they will always ensure that their high standards remain constant across all factories.
Mercedes-Benz are well-known for building luxury cars of the highest quality.
As such, they aim to keep the quality of their production the same across all their facilities.
Where is the Mercedes-Benz GLC Designed?
Our research indicates that the GLC was designed at the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Centre in Sindelfingen, Germany.
According to Mercedes, the facility is ‘an ideas factory for Mercedes-Benz design’, and is the headquarters for Daimler (parent company of Mercedes) Design network which has 5 locations around the world and employs around 500 people.
The Mercedes-Benz design team responsible for the GLC was spearheaded by:
- Gorden Wagener – Chief Design Officer
- Robert Lešnik – Car designer
The GLC design aims to exude SUV-style presence without being overly imposing.
Please also read our article: 15 Mercedes Benz GLC Facts and Statistics
Where Is Mercedes-Benz GLC Made for the Australian Market?
The Mercedes GLC for the Australian market is made at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen, Germany and also in Finland at the Valmet Automotive plant in Uusikaupunki. From here the vehicles are shipped to Australia.
Where Is the Mercedes-Benz GLC Made for the Canadian Market?
The Canadian bound Mercedes GLC are built at the factory in Pune, India. The Mercedes-Benz India factory is responsible for building all GLC models being shipped to North America.
Where Is the Mercedes-Benz GLC Made for the UK Market?
The UK receives its Mercedes-Benz GLC from the Bremen factory in Germany. The Bremen factory builds vehicles for right-hand drive markets as well as many other European countries.
Is Mercedes-Benz Planning to Move Its Production?
Mercedes-Benz is not planning on moving its production of the GLC.
Although Mercedes has a plant in Vance, Alabama there is no indication they will build the GLC here in the near future and it will continue to be produced in India for the US market.
Is Mercedes-Benz Hiring or Firing in the US?
According to career sites such as Glassdoor and Indeed and the Mercedes-Benz careers page, Mercedes are hiring in the US.
Mercedes are always on the lookout for talented, energetic and dedicated people to join their team.
From positions in corporate headquarters to technicians and retail opportunities in local areas, there are open positions across the US.
Is Mercedes-Benz an American Company?
Mercedes-Benz is a German company with headquarters in Stuttgart.
The company was founded in 1926 by Karl Benz, Gottlieb Daimler, Wilhelm Maybach and Emil Jellinek.
The current CEO of Mercedes-Benz is Dieter Zetsche who has held this position since 2006.
Mercedes-Benz has a subsidiary named Merced-Benz USA, with headquarters in Atlanta.
Mercedes-Benz is a subsidiary of parent company Daimler AG.
Daimler is one of the biggest producers of luxury cars and the largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles
You may also be interested in our article: Mercedes Benz GLC In Snow & Winter Driving
Resources
https://www.mbusa.com/en/vehicles/class/glc/suv
https://www.valmet-automotive.com/
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/mercedes-benz/glc-class#
https://www.daimler.com/career/about-us/locations/location-detail-page-5095.html
https://www.daimler.com/career/about-us/locations/location-detail-page-5097.html
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/mercedes-benz/glc
