Mercedes-Benz is expanding aftermarket distribution in the Middle East following the first shipment of parts to Syria from its regional logistics centre in the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The facility celebrated its 10th anniversary this week with the announcement of the new Syrian business and also said there were plans to expand logistics services out of Dubai in 2011 to include Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. The company said it is planning to enlarge the RLC Middle East facility, which currently covers 24,000m2, in the near future.
Mercedes’ aftersales network in the Middle East now covers 26 locations in nine countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Yemen and Afghanistan.
Addressing those gathered at the 10-year anniversary at the facility Thomas Mlynek, Daimler’s director for Global Service & Parts, Logistics Supply Chain & Processes, said: “The Regional Logistics Centre has consistently provided the highest levels of expertise, professionalism and excellence in serving our Middle East customers over the last decade, providing parts anywhere in the region swiftly and to international service standards, in less than 48 hours in urgent cases.
Mercedes’ RLC carries over 72,000 different line items and supplies them for both its commercial vehicles and passenger cars, as well as for Maybach, Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles.
The company will be celebrating a greater historic milestone this coming Saturday with the 125th anniversary of the automobile. It was on 29 January 1886 that Carl Benz received the patent for the first motor car, a three-wheel vehicle with two tall wheels flanking the rear-mounted single-cylinder engine that drove the wheels by a leather belt and chain drive.
