Mercedes-Benz announced on Thursday that it will begin making a new “core segment vehicle” in Tuscaloosa.
According to Mercedes-Benz, the German automaker has exported roughly two-thirds of its annual output, making it one of the largest exporters of automobiles produced in the United States, contributing to the U.S. trade balance.
The announcement came on the same day President Donald Trump will deliver a commencement address at the University of Alabama.
“Tuscaloosa has been a key hub for Mercedes-Benz vehicles for almost 30 years. It’s a natural step to bring a further model to Alabama as part of a strategy to deepen our commitment to the United States, a market, which has been our home for more than a century.” Ola Källenius, chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, said in a statement.
According to Mercedes-Benz, the new car will be produced at the Tuscaloosa plant in 2027 and will be tailored to American customer preferences.
Since 1997, more than 4.5 million vehicles have left the Tuscaloosa plant, with around 260,000 vehicles rolling off the line in 2024 alone. The Tuscaloosa plant is home to the GLE, GLS, GLE Coupe, and Mercedes-Maybach GLS as well as the EQE SUV, EQS SUV, and Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV for all global markets.
Bringing a core segment vehicle to Alabama by 2027 further enhances the company's commitment to the North American market while keeping its local-for-local approach, according to Mercedes-Benz.
“We are getting even closer to the U.S. customer by localizing a core segment model in Tuscaloosa, strengthening our ties to the North American market where a range of Mercedes-Benz vehicles including the GLE and GLS models have their roots.”
Jason Hoff, CEO of Mercedes-Benz North America, said in a statement.
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