Growing emphasis on electric vehicles is making a behemoth manufacturer’s footprint in Alabama even larger.
Arriving in Alabama in 1995 and led by recently appointed CEO Federico Kochlowski, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International has assembled more than 4 million vehicles since 1997. The company said it has been able to produce and export several vehicle models to global markets due to its highly flexible production system.
Located in Vance, the company makes the GLE SUV, GLS Luxury SUV, GLE Coupe, Mercedes-Maybach GLS SUV, EQS SUV, EQE SUV and EQS SUV Maybach.
Concerning exporting, they assemble the GLE, GLS, GLE Coupe, and the Mercedes-Maybach GLS for the world market. Nearly two-thirds of the SUVs produced by Mercedes in Alabama are exported to countries around the world.
Due to the success of the M-Class (now called the GLE), Mercedes-Benz has more than tripled its operations at MBUSI. In 2023, MBUSI produced roughly 295,000 SUVs.
Having 6,100 local employees, MBUSI was the first large Mercedes plant built outside of Germany.
The company estimates its suppliers provide 57,000 jobs in the region.
