A front-wheel-drive plant of Beijing Benz Automotive Co has been certified by an internationally recognized authority and has officially met carbon neutrality standards, becoming the first complete vehicle manufacturing plant in China to receive such certification.

As BBAC's first "zero-carbon factory", the front-wheel-drive plant has successfully passed the certification, marking another milestone breakthrough in the company's journey toward low-carbon transformation.

The company — a joint venture between BAIC Group and Mercedes-Benz — said the plant was audited by international certification body DEKRA Certification under the ISO 14068-1:2023 carbon neutrality standard.

Joerg Bartels, president and CEO of BBAC, said the company has embedded "responsible sustainability" into its strategic transformation while pursuing high-quality growth.

Bartels said the zero-carbon factory enhances the green competitiveness of its products and offers a benchmark for the industry's path to carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.

"In China, our joint ventures — Beijing Benz and Fujian Benz — have become benchmark enterprises for sustainable manufacturing in their regions through measures such as energy conservation and emissions reduction, the use of renewable energy and circular economy practices. We have also reached a green development consensus with major production suppliers, working together to contribute to China's sustainable development," said Oliver Thone, a member of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG.

As a pilot zero-carbon factory, the front-wheel-drive plant integrates green planning and production into daily operations from its inception. In recent years, it has followed a four-step approach — on-site renewable generation, efficient energy use, purchased green power and carbon offsets.

Photovoltaic installations began in 2020 and have expanded with upgrades to technology, equipment and capacity.

Rooftop solar panels now cover more than 90,000 square meters, roughly the size of 12 standard soccer fields.

To improve efficiency, the plant added air-source heat pumps and waste-heat recovery systems to process and supply water for washing and heating. It introduced a digital energy management system with smart device controls to monitor and optimize air-handling units in real time through visualization and connectivity, cutting energy use and emissions.

Beijing Benz said these measures reduced emissions in 2024 by nearly 22,000 metric tons of CO2e compared with 2023, equivalent to the annual saving of almost 1.2 million trees.

The zero-carbon factory offers a pathway for other Beijing Benz plants and underpins more green products. The all-new Mercedes-Benz electric CLA, the first model based on the Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture platform, recently rolled off the line at the front-wheel-drive plant, expanding Beijing Benz's battery-electric lineup to six models.

Zhang Zhengye, Party secretary and senior executive vice-president of BBAC, said the factory reflects the company's long-term commitment.

Zhang said BBAC is accelerating its green transition across production, products and supply chains, and will continue to implement the new development philosophy to build a "BBAC pathway" to green growth.

He added that the company will continue to implement the new development philosophy, leverage the zero-carbon factory's demonstration effect and contribute more Mercedes-Benz strength to the green future of China's auto industry.

renqi@chinadaily.com.cn