The Daimler group wants to sell the Hambach Smart plant
- The Daimler group (owner of the Smart brand) has announced that it wants to sell its Smart factory in Hambach, in Moselle (France). This factory has been producing Smart models since its inauguration in 1998 and since this year, the Hambach plant has produced 1,450,000 cars.
- Last year, following an agreement signed with the Chinese Geely, Daimler had announced the end of production of Smart in France in 2021 and the transfer of production to China, but had announced at the same time that the Hambach'splant would then be dedicated to the production of a Mercedes Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV), with a first model: the Mercedes EQA.
- Since then, Daimler's management has changed and the coronavirus crisis has shaken up a lot of projects, including at Daimler. Daimler’s commitment has therefore been put in question, following the coronavirus crisis which is pushing (or giving the opportunity?) carmakers to make significant savings on their current and future investments.
- Daimler has announced more than 10,000 job cuts worldwide, and the sharp drop in sales causing unprecedented overcapacity in production does not go in the direction of a conservation of the Hambach site.
- It will not be easy to find a buyer for this site, especially in the current circumstances. One possibility could be the takeover by a Chinese carmaker who could be interested by marketing BEVs in Europe.
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