Magna Phases Out E-Class 4MATIC

GRAZ, Austria – Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co. KG phases out production of Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4MATIC all-wheel-drive cars, ending a 10-year run at the assembler’s plant here.

Production of the previous-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class was launched in Graz in November 1996. About 190,800 of the cars have been manufactured since then, including 97,500 of the old W210 range and 93,300 of the current-generation W211. The figures include some rear-drive versions of the cars.

The final car rolled down the line Dec. 14, and tools now will be transferred from Graz to DaimlerChrysler AG’s plant in Sindelfingen, Germany, where the production will be continued. Magna Steyr employees will help with the launch in Sindelfingen.

In conjunction with the E-Class transfer to Germany, some 500 temporary jobs have been eliminated, bringing Magna Steyr employement to some 7,300 permanent and 1,200 temporary workers.