By Reuters Staff
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BEIJING (Reuters) -Daimler AG’s main China joint venture with BAIC Motor plans to add a shift and working days at two Beijing plants that will boost nominal capacity to make Mercedes-Benz cars by 45%, a document on the venture’s Chinese website showed.
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The projected upgrade at Beijing Benz Automotive Co (BBAC), 49%-owned by Stuttgart-based Daimler and the latter’s main business in China, was set out in a document posted on the BBAC website last month to seek public opinion on the expansion.
It comes as demand for BBAC’s luxury vehicles surges in the world’s biggest car market. China is Daimler’s biggest country business, with more cars sold there than in Germany and the United States combined.
President Joe Biden's strategy to make the United States a powerhouse in electric vehicles will include boosting domestic recycling of batteries to reuse lithium and other metals, according to government officials.
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June 5 (Reuters) - AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly was surprisingly fastest in final practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday, as Red Bull’s Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen crashed into the barriers.
Frenchman Gasly, a winner for the Red Bull-owned team in Italy last season, lapped the Baku street circuit with a best time of one minute 42.251 seconds in an eventful session on a hot afternoon.
Verstappen’s team mate Sergio Perez was second quickest, 0.344 slower.
Mercedes’ seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton was third, after earlier complaining of a lack of grip, but his pace was increased significantly by running in the Mexican’s slipstream.
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June 5 (Reuters) - Mercedes Formula One team boss Toto Wolff branded Red Bull rival Christian Horner a “bit of a windbag” on Saturday as a war of words over “bendy wings” showed no sign of abating at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Red Bull are leading Mercedes by a point in the constructors’ standings after five races and this weekend’s event in Baku has been overshadowed by an argument over aerodynamics.
Mercedes and others have put the spotlight on Red Bull’s rear wing, with accusations that it bends the rules by flexing at speed to gain a performance advantage, while Horner has returned fire on the champions.