German Federal Minister for Economic and Energy Affairs visits Mercedes-Benz Tuscaloosa Plant

Jörg Burzer, Member of the Divisional Board Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production and Supply Chain, as well as the new site manager Michael Göbel, Head of Production SUVs and President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI), welcomed German Federal Minister for Economic and Energy Affairs Peter Altmaier at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa.

Altmaier toured the passenger-car production site together with Kay Ivey, the Governor of Alabama, and a delegation from Alabama located entrepreneurs. The Mercedes-Benz Tuscaloosa plant exclusively produces the SUV model series GLE, GLE Coupé and GLS for the world market, as well as the C-Class sedan for the North American market.

“Mercedes-Benz Cars has laid the foundation for the automotive industry in Alabama and in doing so had a significant impact in its industrial transformation. We created thousands of highly qualified jobs by building our Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa more than 20 years ago. With our additional investment of $1 billion announced in 2017, we are putting the Tuscaloosa plant on a viable and sustainable foundation - beginning with building a battery factory and extending to the future production of electric SUVs of the EQ product and technology brand. The visit by the German Federal Minister for Economic and Energy Affairs, Peter Altmaier, underscores the significance of the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa for the German-American economic relations”, said Jörg Burzer, Member of the Divisional Board Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production and Supply Chain.

“The Mercedes-Benz factory in Tuscaloosa is an impressive example of how German companies are generating growth, jobs and innovation in the US. I'm particularly impressed by the latest investments of $1 billion to promote electric mobility and construct a battery factory”, said Federal Minister for Economic and Energy Affairs Peter Altmaier.

Since 1995, Mercedes-Benz Cars has invested more than $6 billion in the Tuscaloosa plant. The announcement of the investment of another billion US dollars in 2017 marked the start of the company's expansion of its industrial involvement in the region and is a clear commitment to the Tuscaloosa location. The investment amount is allocated to the production of electric SUVs of the EQ product and technology brand and to the construction of a battery factory. This includes a Global Logistics Centre as well as an after-sales hub for the export of spare parts.

“Tuscaloosa has been producing Mercedes-Benz SUVs with great success since 1997. The plant delivers the current GLE, GLS and GLE Coupé SUV model series to customers around the world. Together with our highly motivated team, we are ready for the electric mobility of Mercedes-Benz Cars. We are already working on the preparations for the production of future electric Mercedes-Benz SUVs in Tuscaloosa now,” said Michael Göbel, Head of Production SUVs and President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI).

Tuscaloosa is being further expanded with a view to the future and electric mobility. In the future, the location will produce vehicles with powertrains that will fulfil the requests of customers worldwide, from vehicles with traditional combustion engine and hybrids to electric vehicles.