Zasada Launches Mercedes' Mini-Van Production

09/19/96

Reuters reported that Poland's automotive group Sobieslaw Zasada Centrum SA launched the construction of Mercedes' Vito mini-vans on Tuesday. The launch marks the first production license that Mercedes-Benz has granted in eastern Europe.

A Zasada statement said the company would seek to win a 25 percent share of Poland's mini-van market, which is forecast to grow from 33,000 units sold in 1995 to 42,000 units this year. Zasada said that its Vito-Jelcz plant in south-eastern Poland would manufacture 400 mini-vans this year, more than 3,000 next year, and at least 10,000 in 1998. Zasada, which controls two utility car factories and several automotive parts plants, is Mercedes' sole distributor in Poland. Vito-Jelcz is a fully-owned subsidiary of ZS Jelcz SA truck maker, 84-percent owned by the Zasada group.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel