Mercedes-Benz marks 30 years in Alabama with dual SUV premiere

Mercedes-Benz has staged the world premieres of the updated GLE and GLS SUVs at its Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant, coinciding with the facility’s production of its five-millionth vehicle after 30 years of operation. The event was attended by Mercedes-Benz Chief Executive Ola Källenius alongside US Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Alabama senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville.

The Tuscaloosa plant, operated by Mercedes-Benz US International, currently assembles the GLE, GLS, GLE Coupe, AMG performance variants, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS, and three electric SUVs: the EQE SUV, EQS SUV and Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV. The GLE 53 Hybrid from Mercedes-AMG also made its world premiere at the event. Around 60% of output is exported, making it one of the largest automobile exporters in the US. The GLC SUV is set to join the production line in the coming years. The plant employs approximately 5,800 people.

Mercedes-Benz plans to invest more than US$7bn across its US operations by 2030, of which US$4bn is allocated specifically to the Tuscaloosa facility. The company also supports an estimated 160,000 jobs across the US, including 10,600 direct roles. A further consolidation of US operations is under way, with up to 500 roles being relocated to a new research and development hub near Sandy Springs, Georgia, close to the company’s North American headquarters.

US retail sales reached 303,200 passenger cars and 40,000 vans in 2025, making the country Mercedes-Benz’s second-largest market globally.

Source: Mercedes-Benz