Mercedes-Benz Ramps up S-Class Production to Keep up With Demand

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, it seems, is all the rage these days. So much so that the German automaker is already increasing production of its new, tech-heavy flagship sedan in order to meet consumer demand, reports Bloomberg.

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Starting in 2014, employees at the automaker's assembly plant in Sindelfingen, Germany will work an extra 74 minutes a day, and that's after the additional 30 minutes already added to their shifts this year. Workers have also worked four Saturdays this year. Although the thoroughly reworked S-Class has only been on the market since September, sales have taken a big leap. In October, the first full month the sedan was on sale, Mercedes reported numbers were up nearly 75 percent compared to the same period in 2012, but that shouldn't come as too much of a surprise since the luxury automaker cut S-Class production in half at the Sindelfingen plant late last year. Because customers anticipated the arrival of the new S-Class, there wasn't much demand for the outgoing model. With a steering assist system, an advanced suspension that scans for road imperfections, and an automatic perfuming system, it's no wonder customers were willing to wait for it. The base S500 is equipped with a 4.7-liter twin-turbo V-8 that makes 455 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, while the S63 pumps it up to 577 hp with a 5.5-liter engine. The upcoming 2015 S65 AMG puts both of those to shame though, thanks to its twin-turbo 6.0-liter V-12 that cranks out 621 hp and 738 lb-ft.

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The S-Class isn't the only model getting a boost; the Bremen factory added 10 shifts in November and this month so that workers can build more C- and GLK-Class vehicles. Mercedes is aiming to take the lead in global premium car sales, and it appears it's on the right track after it finally surpassed Audi sales for the first time in 2013 just last month. Source: Bloomberg

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