MERCEDES-BEN EXPANDS ALABAMA PLANT WITH NEW VEHICLE PRODUCTION

Mercedes-Benz announced plans this week to expand production at its Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, plant, introducing a new vehicle in the core segment by 2027, as reported by al.​com.

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The expansion reinforces the facility’s status as a key export hub, where it manufactured 260,000 SUVs in 2024, including the GLE, GLS, and EQS, with 60% shipped globally.

For Alabama’s workforce, U.S. consumers, and the automotive industry, the move highlights Mercedes’ focus on strengthening its North American presence amid U.S. tariffs on foreignbuilt vehicles and parts.

The Tuscaloosa plant, operational since 1997, has received over $7 billion in investments from Mercedes since 1993, employing more than 6,000 workers and supporting 60,000 supplier jobs, including 200 in Alabama. The Trump administration’s 25% tariffs on imported vehicles and parts, combined with supply chain uncertainties, prompted Mercedes to suspend its 2025 financial forecasts.

The new vehicle, tailored to U.S. customer preferences, leverages the plant’s existing capacity to meet demand while navigating tariff-related challenges.

NEW VEHICLE LINE IN TUSCALOOSA

Mercedes-Benz will start producing a core segment vehicle at its Tuscaloosa County plant by 2027, expanding its production range beyond current SUV models like the GLE, GLS, EQE, and EQS. The plant produced 260,000 vehicles in 2024, positioning it as one of the U.S.’s largest automotive exporters. CEO Jason Hoff noted the facility’s nearly 30-year history as a production hub, though no specific details on the vehicle’s model or type were disclosed.