Race in four for Mercedes

Hungary is the newly entered country on Daimler's list and is competing with Romania, Serbia and Poland.

The German group Daimler is analyzing the possibility of building a Mercedes-Benz factory in Hungary, adding this state on the list of possible destinations for an investment in a new production unit in Eastern Europe, along with Romania, Poland and Serbia, according to German auto magazines.

Daimler bosses will decide today where they will build the factory in which will be produced, from 2012, around 150.000 cars every year, from types A and B. Hungary's entrance on the list for the Mercedes factory is decreasing significantly Romania's chances of benefiting from the investment of the German group, according to the publications „Autor Motor und Sport“ and „Automobilwoche“.

Serbia seems to be a potential option also. In a first stage, in the race for the Mercedes factory were just Timisoara and the Polish city Wroclaw. For over four months it is speculated over the places where Mercedes could open a new factory. There were talks about Cluj, Cugir, Campulung, and, more recently, Timisoara was given as a certain location, on the basis of the local political leaders statements. The pieces are valuable also

Even though Peugeot or Mitsubishi are planning only the founding of factories for engines or exchange pieces, a decision in this way would mean investments of over 600.000 euro and thousands of new jobs. An opportunity for the producers could be the rapid developing market from Romania. According to a study made by GE Money, over 50% of Romanians are planning to buy a new car until 2010. In Romania, one in three families doesn't have a car, and the most accessible automobile is Dacia.

350.000 cars are currently produced in Romania, all Dacia.