Mercedes celebrates 30 years of production in the US by investing seven billion dollars
The plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, from which the larger SUVs come is becoming increasingly important for the brand's global expansion and the consolidation of its presence in the US.
At the same time as the five-millionth suv rolls off the production line at the American plant in Tuscaloosa, which opened thirty years ago, Mercedes not only presents the new series of the large GLE and GLS suvs but, more importantly, announces that it is reinforcing its presence in the United States with investments of seven billion dollars by 2030.
Mercedes, the electric GLC is also coming to Tuscaloosa
Four of these are destined for the Alabama plant, which began operations in 1997 with the production of the M-class and has become increasingly strategic over time. And today, with the US tariffs issue, it is even more so because 40% of production remains within American borders.
Obviously, the remaining 60 per cent leaves Alabama for the rest of the world, placing American Mercedes among the leading exporters of cars from the United States. In particular, the GLE suv, coupé and AMG derivatives together with the GLS also in the sumptuous Maybach version reach the rich Middle Eastern Chinese markets. In addition to these models, the EQE and EQS electric suvs were also born in Tuscoloosa. But the story doesn't end there, because next year this line-up will also be joined by the GLC EQ, the full-electric, which until then will only be produced in Bremen, Germany.
Mercedes, leader of arrivals in Alabama
The Alabama plant, which is Mercedes' largest outside of Germany, currently employs around six thousand people and impacts an allied industry with more than five and a half thousand jobs, considering suppliers and service providers in the region. This audience consists of one hundred and fifty companies and is growing steadily as, following in the footsteps of Mercedes, production facilities have opened in Alabama: Hyundai, Honda and Mazda with Toyota. And, in addition, there is also Airbus, which assembles A 320s and A321s, attracting new technological skills, useful in some cases for the automotive industry.
Mercedes plans to consolidate presence in the US
Mercedes' plan for the United States, while being strongly 'suvcentric' and also supported by the Van division established 20 years ago in South Carolina where the Sprinter and eSprinter are assembled, and which has recently produced five million vans, also considers other factors that make the brand's presence in the United States important.
