Mercedes-Benz has started producing the all-electric EQS SUV in Vance. The full-size EQS SUV is the first of two EQ vehicles that are slated to be produced in the plant near Tuscaloosa. The plant is the exclusive producer of the EQS SUV.
“Our production network is very well positioned for the sustainable and rapid scaling of electric vehicle volumes. With the new EQS SUV joining our production portfolio of all-electric Mercedes-EQ models, we reached another important milestone in our strategy to go all-electric by the end of the decade — wherever market conditions allow. I am absolutely sure that our great Tuscaloosa team will make the electric SUV another global success,” said Jörg Burzer, member of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Production and Supply Chain.
The Mercedes-Benz plant near Tuscaloosa uses digital, sustainable, efficient and flexible production methods. Due to early investments in flexible production and the M0360 digital production ecosystem, Mercedes-Benz is already able to produce battery-electric vehicles in large volumes.
The battery systems that will power the EQS SUV will come from Bibb County, where Mercedes has established a 985-foot-long production line with more than 70 workstations. The battery systems factory opened in March. The Bibb County facility is part of Mercedes’ battery production network, comprised of factories on three different continents.
“Our team members in Tuscaloosa have shown a lot of flexibility, energy and commitment in helping us to achieve milestone after milestone since our first Mercedes-Benz rolled off the production line more than 25 years ago,” said Michael Goebel, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International. “The employees here at the site can be proud that the first all-electric SUV from Mercedes-Benz and its battery are being built in Alabama.”
