The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is often thought of as an “executive” version of the C-Class sedan.
In fact, the “E” refers to the German term Einspritzmotor, which means a fuel-injection engine.
It’s therefore a higher-performance sedan when compared to the C-class.
This article answers the question “Where Are Mercedes E-Class Made?”…
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Where Are Mercedes E-Class Made?
The principal location for the manufacture of the E-Class is in Germany at the Sindelfingen plant. That also includes the electrified models of the E-Class. In Germany, the E-Class is also manufactured in a smaller plant in Bremen.
The Bremen plant employs about 12,500 people. That is only half of those employed at Sindelfingen, however.
The long-wheelbase version of the E-Class is manufactured in Beijing, China, along with the C-Class. The Beijing plant is staffed by about 11,500 employees.
Other locations where the current generation of E-Class is assembled include:
- Chakan, Pune, India
- Bogor Regency, Indonesia
- Pekan, Malaysia
- Samut Prakan, Thailand
- Solnechnogorsk, Russia
Though there are further Mercedes-Benz production facilities around the world, including those in the US like the Tuscaloosa plant in Alabama, these facilities do not produce the E-Class.
The Alabama location, for instance, makes only SUV models like the GLE and GLS, but also the C-Class sedan.
How Much The E-Class Sells In The U.S.?
The E-Class has enjoyed pretty decent sales in the US since its launch there back in 2001, consistently achieving an average sales volume of 55,000 year on year, with the high being 69,803 units in 2013, and the known low being 38,576 in 2008.
Are E-Class Being Assembled In The U.S.?
No, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class units that are sold in the US are not being assembled there.
Although the US does have a Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, that factory doesn’t assemble the E-Class.
The US operation assembles the GLE and GLS SUV models, as well as the very popular C-Class sedan.
How Can You Check Where A Specific E-Class Was Produced?
The easiest way to check for where a Mercedes-Benz E-Class was made is to check the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
Within the WIN you can find a number that identifies the country of manufacture.
Here’s the great news, it’s the very first number/letter of the VIN that tells you the country of manufacture.
Each country has a number or letter assigned, and the first group of three digits is all about the manufacturing origin and OEM.
- 1, 4 or 5 = United States
- 2 = Canada
- 3 = Mexico
- J = Japan
- K = South Korea
- L = Mainland China
- S = United Kingdom (specifically SA through SM)
- W = Germany
- Y = Sweden/Finland
There are many other numbers/letters combinations to identify all the many other countries that manufacture cars, of course.
Where And Who Designed The E-Class?
All Mercedes-Benz cars are designed at the Advanced Design Studio in Sindelfingen, a city in Baden-Wurttemberg in Germany, close to Stuttgart.
The first-generation E-Class was designed by Joseph Gallitzendorfer, Peter Pfeiffer, and Bruno Sacco.
The second-generation E-Class was designed by Steve Mattin and Bruno Sacco.
The third-generation E-Class was designed by Hartmut Sinkwitz in 1999.
The fourth-generation E-Class was designed by Thomas Stopka originally in 2005, but then by Michael Frei for the facelifted version in 2011.
The fifth and current generation of Mercedes-Benz E-Class models was designed by Drummond Jacoy and Robert Lesnik.
Are German-Built E-Class Engines Different?
No, they aren’t.
Besides the E180 model that came with a 1.6L inline-4 engine designed specifically for the Asia market (especially the Philippines and Singapore), engines offered in Germany are the same as elsewhere.
Mercedes-Benz is a global brand and the engine offerings on the car are the same everywhere except for that one select model on the E 180.
Between 2017 and 2020, were 14 gasoline engines and 6 diesel options available in total around the world.
After 2020, the number of petrol engines has been reduced to just three currently available, a 1.6L inline-4 (Asia only) and a 4.0L V8.
There are also 5 hybrid gasoline engines, 4 diesel engines, a plug-in hybrid gasoline engine, and a plug-in diesel hybrid engine.
Are European E-Class Engines Different?
Not exactly. There is only one engine, the E 180 1.6L inline-4 engine that was made for the Asian market in the Philippines and Singapore.
The other engines that are available in Germany are also available around the world as options.
Where Are E-Class Made For The Australian Market?
All Mercedes-Benz E-Class models made for the Australian market are made at the flagship Sindelfingen plant in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.
This includes the coupe and cabriolet version that were produced in 2020, though some of that production has since moved to the Bremen facility.
The base-level E-Class price starts at AU$95,900, and that’s before additional on-road charges are put on top.
Australians have the choice of buying the sedan, coupe, all-terrain wagon, convertible and more.
Where Are E-Class Made For The Canadian Market?
The E-Class for Canada is manufactured at the Sindelfingen plant and then exported to Canada from there.
The coupe and cabriolets are made in the Bremen plant like the majority of the others.
Where Are E-Class Made For The UK Market?
The UK market is an interesting one in Europe because not only it is among the top-5 markets in size and the largest single market for German vehicles in Europe outside of Germany itself.
Not only that, but the UK is a right-hand drive country, meaning the driver cockpit is on the right-hand side of the cabin, not the left.
Therefore, while some production is carried out in the German plants, other production is done in the Thailand and India plants.
Both Thailand and India are right-hand drive countries, too, which means they are well placed to meet the demand for UK Mercedes Benz E-Class cars.
The shortfall is met this way.
Where Are E-Class Made For The European Market?
Mercedes-Benz E-Class models for the European market are made in the principal plant in Sindelfingen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.
Now, most of the coupe and cabriolet versions are also made in Germany, but at the Bremen facility and not the flagship plant in Sindelfingen.