A new vehicle will be produced at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance beginning in 2027.
“Tuscaloosa has been a key hub for Mercedes-Benz vehicles for almost 30 years,” said Ola Kallenius, chairman of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. “It’s a natural step to bring a further model to Alabama as part of a strategy to deepen our commitment to the United States, a market which has been our home for more than a century.”
Mercedes didn’t provide details of the new vehicle other than calling it a “core segment vehicle.” The Vance plant, which has produced more than 4.5 million vehicles since it opened in 1997, produces the GLE, GLS, GLE Coupe, Mercedes-Maybach GLS, EQE SUV, EQS SUV and Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV.
The Vance plant employs more than 6,000 people and secures an estimated additional 60,000 jobs with suppliers and service providers in the region, including 200 suppliers in Alabama, according to Mercedes.
“With the integration of a further model we’re taking a further step in our local-for-local approach, enhancing the integral role of our Tuscaloosa plant within our flexible digital global production network,” said Jorg Burzer, a member of Mercedes’ board of management who is responsible for production, quality and supply chain management.
