(SEOUL = Newsis) Mercedes-Benz will open a small research and development (R&D) center and further expands its CSR activities in 2014 by raising a social contribution fund (SCF) with its dealers.

Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG, held a press conference last month at Seoul FKI Tower and announced the company’s business plans.

“Korea possesses expertise in the field of telematics, which will enable the company to quickly respond to the sophisticated needs of Korean clients,” said Zetsche regarding the establishment of the R&D center.

Korea is the 13th largest market for Mercedes-Benz in terms of sales. With a growing presence in the international market, the company considers tailored research development plans necessary for domestic customers.

Mercedes-Benz will also consider using the R&D center in various ways, as there are many companies with world-class IT technology in Korea. The initial research team will include three to five members, and the amount of investment for construction is undecided.

“This is only the beginning for the R&D center in Korea. We will find out how to develop the center in the future,” said Zetsche. “Our first goal is to understand the Korean market and its customers, and we will work together with R&D centers in Japan and China to accomplish the task."

The company also plans to build a new training center that provides professional training for car sales staff and service technicians. The training center can accommodate about 320 trainees.

Construction of the parts distribution center in Anseong will be completed in June of 2014. “The parts center, which handles some 35,000 auto parts, is expected to open in June of next year,” said Zetsche. “We believe that the quality of after-sales services will dramatically improve.”

Mercedes-Benz also plans to begin its CSR activities in Korea by raising a social contribution fund (SCF) with its official dealers.

Mercedes-Benz Korea, Daimler Trucks Korea, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Korea and other official dealers in the country will participate in the fundraising activity. “We are still discussing how to use the funds with our dealers,” said Britta Seeger, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Korea. “The company plans to announce the details of the fund at the end of the first quarter in 2014.”

“The Korean market has a lot of potential for aggressive expansion, and we strongly believe that sales will double by 2020,” said Seeger.