- Mercedes-Benz will expand and upgrade its Tuscaloosa plant, which has just begun building the redesigned 2012 M-Class.
- The makeover is in preparation for the next-generation GL-Class crossover, as well as the 2014 C-Class sedan.
- The redesigned GL-Class is due in 2013.
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — Mercedes-Benz said it is investing more than $2 billion to upgrade and expand its U.S. assembly plant here, in preparation for the launch of the redesigned C-Class sedan in 2014.
A portion of the investment also has been spent to launch the redesigned 2012 M-Class utility vehicle, which rolled off the line here earlier this week. The Tuscaloosa plant, which opened in 1997, also builds the GL-Class and R-Class utility vehicles.
The German automaker hinted that the R-Class may not be redesigned. In a statement, Mercedes said it is investing "more than $2 billion . . . for the production of the new M-Class, the successor generations of the GL-Class and the C-Class, and the expansion of production capacities."
No mention was made of a redesign of the R-Class, which has been a slow seller in most markets.
Mercedes-Benz said the Tuscaloosa plant in 2014 will be one of four global locations to build the next-generation C-Class, which also will be assembled in Bremen, Germany; East London, South Africa; and Beijing, China.
Inside Line says: Curiously, one market that appears to love the R-Class is China.
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kkear3 says:
06:45 PM, 08/06/2011
The East London plant is IN South Africa. Surprisingly, none are made in South America.
mk40 says:
09:30 PM, 07/22/2011
I count 5 locations for the C-class, not 4, when Tuscaloosa is added. That's good news for Alabama. More jobs.