In preparation for the production of its absolute-electric EQ SUV, Mercedes-Benz announced a $1 billion investment into its manufacturing plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama...
Mercedes reports it's planned expansion will create 600 new jobs for the region.
Mercedes reports it's planned expansion will create 600 new jobs for the region.
This huge investment will be spent on three different areas, beginning with retooling and reworking portions of the primary plant in preparation for the forthcoming EQ model. This is going to be the first all-electric SUV from the automaker, and one of the first products of the new EQ sub-brand. The Tuscaloosa facility currently produces all GLS, GLE, and GLE Coupe SUVs for the global market, as well as the U.S. market’s C-Class sedan. This is one of Mercedes’ busiest center, producing more than 310,000 vehicles in 2016
The new investment will also support the creation of a new battery production facility close to the Mercedes plant. This is their fifth battery production facility for Mercedes, and will support the automaker’s efforts to completely electrify each section of the Mercedes lineup by 2022. Construction will begin next year, with full operation beginning after 2020.
A new Global Logistics Center is the third spike of the investment, providing Mercedes with a stronger supply chain management and after-sales support, including the exportation of car-kits to overseas assembly plants.
This investment follows a $1.3 billion expansion in 2015 that included the improvement of the SUV assembly facility and adding a new body-shop.
Source: Mercedes benz
