Mercedes-Benz set to expand Tuscaloosa plant to accomodate future SUV production
Ryan Joseph Ramos September 20, 2015
In order to get ready for additional SUV production in the future, Mercedes-Benz is getting ready to invest a whopping $1.3 billion in order to expand its production facility in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
The added capacity will allow the plant to accommodate the production of the next SUV generations in a more flexible and more efficient manner. You will find the expansion facilities in the picture above, identified by the white buildings. It is estimated that the expanded SUV production will lead to up to 300 new jobs at the plant.
With the upgrade, the plant is not only expected to up its SUV production but also allow for the production of hybrid SUV variants.
In addition to the new buildings, Mercedes-Benz will also add a new Body Shop to the plant, while also upgrading its current SUV Assembly Shop. Upgrades to the facility’s logistics and IT systems are also in the works. End-to-end digitization is also part of the plans for this state-of-the-art facility.
“Our entire team is proud to reinforce the State of Alabama’s growing reputation as a leader in high-quality automotive manufacturing,” said MBUSI president and CEO Jason Hoff.
After the upgrade, the new 1.3m square foot Body Shop will feature a modular approach in manufacturing vehicles, made possible through the latest lightweight tech alongside new and innovative joining processes.
The Assembly Shop will also get some attention. It is expected to grow by nearly 140,000 square feet and will sport improvements that allow it to produce vehicles across a wider range.
Since being founded in 1995 and producing its first wave of GLE (then the M-Class) vehicles in 1997, some 2.2 million cars have rolled off the Tuscaloosa plant’s assembly line in total.
