Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. (MBUSI) today celebrated production of the first customer-ready all-new GLE Coupé. “The production launch of the GLE Coupé is an important milestone in our growth strategy. In 2015 we will renew almost our full SUV portfolio and have therefore built up our capacities in the U.S. Together with the C‑Class, we will produce more than 300,000 vehicles in Tuscaloosa this year,” said Markus Schäfer, Member of the Divisional Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production and Supply Chain Management, at the ceremony held to celebrate the production launch of the new model in the Mercedes-Benz plant Tuscaloosa (Mercedes-Benz U.S. International – MBUSI). The event was attended by numerous guests, including Alabama Governor Robert Bentley.

Mercedes-Benz Tuscaloosa Plant

Mercedes-Benz has dubbed 2015 as the year of the SUV for the brand, with the majority of its SUV portfolio being renewed, including the model update of the GLE (former M-Class). The GLE Coupé is a completely new series of Mercedes-Benz. It combines typical attributes of a coupé with the versatility and robust nature of a SUV. Mercedes‑Benz thus expects additional sales momentum in this year. In 2014, Mercedes-Benz Cars as a whole set new records with over 1.75 million vehicles produced and more than 1.74 million sold.

In March 2015, Mercedes-Benz increased its U.S. sales by 9.2 percent to 29,921 passenger cars and set a new sales record on monthly basis. Sales of C-Class increased by almost 35 percent to 7,635 units. In the first quarter, U.S. sales grew by 7.6 percent to 78,156 passenger cars. Worldwide sales of Mercedes-Benz in the first three months of 2015 increased around 14.8 percent to 429,602 units, making it the first quarter with the strongest sales in the history of Mercedes-Benz. The SUV models enjoy great popularity: Since the beginning of the year, sales grew by 31.9 percent to 107,321 vehicles.

GLE Coupe

“For more than 20 years, we have been successfully building sport utility vehicles in Alabama for the world market. We have had three keys to our success here. First, we have an excellent partnership with the State of Alabama. Second, we are integrated in the global production network of Mercedes-Benz. And third, we have a fantastic workforce that continues to put in 100 % of effort every day,” says Jason Hoff, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc.

To date, Mercedes-Benz has made a $4.5 billion capital investment in the Tuscaloosa operations. Besides the models GLE and GL, Plant Tuscaloosa has built the C-Class sedan since 2014. Production of R-Class vehicles will be moved to the U.S. contract manufacturer AM-General in Mishawaka, Indiana, which will gradually free production capacities to be used for the SUV series. In 2014, MBUSI produced more than 232,000 vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz Tuscaloosa Plant

“As part of our growth strategy, we are expanding our global production network and use additional capacities of our contract manufacturers as well. So we are increasing flexibility and efficiency of our production organization. Our global production standards guarantee the world-renowned high quality of our Mercedes‑Benz vehicles, independent of their production site,” said Markus Schäfer.

Mercedes-Benz has started production of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class at its U.S. plant in Tuscaloosa/Alabama. With this, the third location in the global C-Class production network has begun manufacturing. The new C-Class sedan is made for the first time in Tuscaloosa and extends the plant’s traditional production program of the SUV models of the M-, R-, and GL-Class. The sedan of Mercedes-Benz’ highest volume model line is the first model to be produced on four continents: Following the ramp-ups in Bremen, Germany (February), East London, South Africa (May), and now Tuscaloosa, the production location in Beijing, China will begin manufacturing shortly.

U.S. plant in Tuscaloosa/Alabama

Markus Schäfer, Divisional Board Member Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production and Supply Chain Management: “With the successful start of production at the Tuscaloosa plant, we are expanding our C-Class capacities and are ready for the market launch in the USA and Canada in the fall. For the first time, the C-Class is manufactured also in Tuscaloosa – the team has done an excellent job in mastering this challenge.”

The Bremen plant, in its capacity as the so-called lead plant, is controlling global production of the C-Class – from the tooling strategy to the training of the colleages from the international plants to production quality. With this, the company ensures top quality at all production sites from the outset. In total, some 500 employees from the international plants – among them more than 100 from Tuscaloosa – completed intensive training also in Germany in order to pass on their knowledge as multipliers in their respective home plants.

Jason Hoff, Head of the Mercedes-Benz Tuscaloosa plant: “Many of our Team Members have spent weeks and months in Germany getting to know the C-Class and the technologies associated with this product. Thanks to our highly qualified and motivated team, we are optimally prepared to write the next chapters of our success story ‘made by Mercedes-Benz in Alabama’.”

Update: A few days ago we told you that Mercedes-Benz was planning an expansion program for the U.S. plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in preparation for a new model that would go up against the BMW X6.  Now, thanks to a photo post on twitter, we have confirmation of the crossover, currently dubbed the MLC.

Daimler today announced that they will further expand the Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant in 2015 to include an entirely new Mercedes-Benz model. The new vehicle to roll off the production line in Tuscaloosa will be the fifth product produced. The plant has been the traditional production site of the brand’s M-Class, GL-Class, and R-Class SUV’s and will also build the Mercedes C-Class for the North American market beginning 2014. For the production of the new model, Daimler will additionally invest 350 million dollars, and will create around 400 jobs at the plant.

According to previous rumors, we are likely to see a small MLC SUV roll off the line. It would take its styling from the M-Class and would go head to head with the BMW X6.

Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Daimler Board of Management and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: “This new model from the Tuscaloosa plant is an important element of our growth strategy. It is one of the ten additional models which we will introduce within the next four years alone across all segments.” Referring to the Tuscaloosa plant’s role within the global production network of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Zetsche added: “At the same time, we are systematically broadening our manufacturing footprint in the NAFTA region.”

Robert Bentley, Governor of the State of Alabama: “Since the time Mercedes-Benz chose Tuscaloosa County for its first US assembly plant 18 years ago, the company has proven to be an outstanding partner for the state. We join MBUSI in celebrating this milestone, and welcome the hundreds of jobs this announcement brings to Alabama.”

Just earlier this year, on the occasion of the Job #1 ceremony of the new Mercedes-Benz M-Class in July, Daimler had announced the decision to invest more than US$2 billion in the Tuscaloosa plant (Mercedes-Benz U.S. International – MBUSI). In total, investment in the plant between 2010 and 2014 will thus amount to US$2.4 billion, while the number of newly created jobs will add up to 1,400.

Markus Schaefer, President and CEO of MBUSI, commented on these decisions: “The entire MBUSI team is proud of its role in the success of the models made in Tuscaloosa. We are looking forward to making further important contributions to the product offensive of Mercedes-Benz.”