The 500,000th current-generation S-Class saloon has rolled off the production line at the Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen plant. The Sindelfingen S-Class team from the body-in-white, paint shop and assembly celebrated this milestone together with Michael Bauer, Head of Production at the Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen plant and Site Manager, and the site’s Works Council Chairman, Ergun Lümali. The current model of the Mercedes-Benz flagship has been produced exclusively at the tradition-steeped site in Sindelfingen for the global market since 2013.

“Our Mercedes-Benz S-Class sets global standards – and this is also reflected in its production. The top quality of the S-Class, which rolls off the assembly line here in Sindelfingen, inspires our customers around the world. State-of-the-art Industry 4.0 solutions ensure flexible, efficient processes and support our people in their daily work”, explains Jörg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz AG, Production and Supply Chain Management.

Innovative power is the major constant in S-Class production. Many new technologies are initially tested as part of pilot projects. In 2017, for example, a Mercedes-Benz S-Class was the first vehicle to drive off the line autonomously during a pilot trial. “In each of the 500,000 S-Class models, there is a large portion of heart and soul from the entire Sindelfingen team. The many years of experience and the specialist knowledge of our employees have made a decisive contribution to this production success. As the Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen plant, we are proud to be the center of competence for our premium and luxury class,” says Michael Bauer.

S-Class production is characterized by manifold digital technologies: state-of-the-art data transmission and the latest hardware solutions facilitate the “paperless factory”, for example. The employees find out about each vehicle’s scope of specification via a screen. Mobile devices support them in individual work steps. Every vehicle can be precisely located at all times in a virtual representation of the factory. The customers also benefit from this: with the “Digital Anticipation” service they can follow the production status of their vehicle online.

Measures that facilitate an especially ergonomic way of working for the employees play a central role. They include mobile platforms that move in synch with the line. What is known as the ErgoSkid, which raises the vehicles on the assembly line by 26 centimeters whilst the employees lay the sub harnesses for the floor unit, also makes a key contribution to improved ergonomics.

“These are highly motivated and superbly qualified colleagues, who produce vehicles in the top quality day in, day out. With it’s exclusive ‘Made in Sindelfingen’ label the S-Class makes an important contribution towards securing employment at the Sindelfingen site. And this is paramount, for us as the Works Council,” says Ergun Lümali.

When the new-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class celebrated its world premiere in 2013 in Hamburg, experts described it as “the best car in the world” right from the outset. It is indeed the best-selling luxury saloon worldwide and in the past few years, it has received numerous awards. Since the market launch of the 220 models in 1951, around four million S-Class Saloon models have been delivered to customers worldwide. China is the biggest market of all: more than every third model is sold there.