Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Confirmed: Mercedes to shift some production of next-gen C-Class to Alabama]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/03/confirmed-mercedes-to-shift-some-production-of-next-gen-c-class/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/03/confirmed-mercedes-to-shift-some-production-of-next-gen-c-class/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/03/confirmed-mercedes-to-shift-some-production-of-next-gen-c-class/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Fluctuations and disparities in currency exchange rates have grown to become a significant factor in determining where foreign automakers in particular assemble their vehicles. Mercedes-Benz is among those carmakers most cognizant of these effects, and it has been assembling select models in the United States to meet local demands. Now the German automaker has announced that, for the next generation of its popular C-Class sedan due in 2014, partial production will shift to its assembly plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where the M-Class, R-Class and GL-Class crossovers are already built.

The shift in production - which is set to comprise no more than one-fifth of global C-Class production - will not only help offset currency rates, but also afford greater flexibility in meeting local customer demand. The move is expected to further upset Germany's automotive workforce, which has grown restless in the wake of General Motors' collapsed sale of Opel.

In addition to the partial shift to Alabama, German production of the remaining four-fifths of C-Class production is set to switch places with the SL-Class roadster, the former moving from Sindelfingen to Bremen and the latter vice-versa. Full details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Confirmed: Mercedes to shift some production of next-gen C-Class to Alabama

Confirmed: Mercedes to shift some production of next-gen C-Class to Alabama originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 mercedes c-class2014 mercedes-benz c-class2014Mercedes-benzC-class2014MercedesC-classalabamabremenC 230C 250C 300C 350c-classC230C250C300C350mbusimercedesmercedes c-classmercedes-benzmercedes-benz c-classMercedes-benzC-classMercedesC-classsindelfingentuscaloosaThu, 03 Dec 2009 08:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Mercedes-Benz pondering C-Class production in Alabama?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/27/mercedes-benz-pondering-c-class-production-in-alabama/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/27/mercedes-benz-pondering-c-class-production-in-alabama/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/27/mercedes-benz-pondering-c-class-production-in-alabama/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Mercedes-Benz C-Class - click above for high-res image gallery

The C-Class is Mercedes-Benz's biggest seller Stateside, and a report in a Stuttgart newspaper indicates the company could be looking to stabilize the revenue from its bread-and-butter sedan. The C-Class is currently produced in Sindelfingen, Germany, and that makes it prey to currency swings on the trip across the pond. If Mercedes transferred production to its plant in Vance, Alabama, the company would also pay lower labor costs than it does in Europe.

The Alabama plant currently makes the M, GL, and R-Class vehicles. In March of this year, Mercedes allotted $290 million to expand the facility but didn't name any vehicle that would be added there, only saying it would be "future product." The German report mentioned that Mercedes could move some SL production from Bremen to Sindelfingen to make up for the shift, but a Mercedes spokesman said there is nothing in the works and nothing to comment on at the moment.

A German labor representative said that if such a move were to come, he would expect Mercedes to have a plan to save the 3,000 jobs that would be jeopardized at Sindelfingen, and protect production at Bremen as well. If Mercedes does move the C-Class here, it would become the first of the German players to build its highest volume car in the States.


Gallery: Mercedes-Benz C-Class


[Source: WGAL]


Mercedes-Benz pondering C-Class production in Alabama? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last week, we told you how despite the downturn, Daimler is upping its investment in the state of Michigan, coming to terms with the city of Ann Arbor to build a new hybrid and electric R&D facility. Now, Automotive News is reporting that the automaker is expected to actually expand its Vance, Alabama production plant.

If the rumors are true, the Mercedes-Benz plant (which currently builds GL, M, and R class vehicles) will benefit from a $290 million investment that is to begin within 60 days. The news evidently leaked out after company officials contacted the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority about property and sales tax breaks (which it apparently received).

The expansion news comes at an odd time, as not only has the automaker's sales been flagging in the U.S. (down 20 percent in February year-over-year, admittedly much better than the market plunge of 41.4 percent), but sales of Vance-built SUVs in particular have fallen off, with Benz responding by reducing the plant's workforce.

Automotive News says the expansion effort won't be completed until 2011, but word yet on how much capacity this will give the plant (and what it will be used for) is not yet known.

[Source: Automotive News - subs. req'd]

Rumormill: Mercedes-Benz expected to expand Alabama plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AlabamaAutomotive NewsAutomotiveNewsBenzGL ClassGlClassM ClassMClassMercedesMercedes-benzMLML ClassMlClassR ClassRClassTuscaloosaVance AlabamaVanceAlabamaMon, 23 Mar 2009 10:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Complete info, pics on the Mercedes M-Class "Edition 10"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/13/complete-info-pics-on-the-mercedes-m-class-edition-10/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/13/complete-info-pics-on-the-mercedes-m-class-edition-10/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/13/complete-info-pics-on-the-mercedes-m-class-edition-10/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click image for photo gallery

Mercedes has followed-up its live press conference shots of the M-Class "Edition10" SUV with complete details and the additional photos we'd been expecting to see. In a nutshell, here's the rundown on the M-Class Edition 10.

Five "Edition 10"models (market availability varies):
  • ML 420 CDI 4MATIC
  • ML 280 CDI
  • ML 320 CDI
  • ML 350
  • ML 500
"Edition 10" package includes:
  • 20" alloys in silver or "chrome shadow" finish
  • Darkened housings for headlamps and foglamps
  • Titanium-look radiator grille and front bumper guard
  • Tnted taillamp clusters
  • Titanium-look rear bumper guard
  • Squared twin-tip dual exhaust outlets
  • Blue-tinted glass
  • Assorted chrome trim elements
  • Edition 10 badging
  • Two-tone beige and black interior
  • Edition 10 floormats
Follow the jump for the total breakdown in the Mercedes-issued press release, and check out more shots of the car in the gallery below.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz M-Class "Edition 10"

Continue reading Complete info, pics on the Mercedes M-Class "Edition 10"

Complete info, pics on the Mercedes M-Class "Edition 10" originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jul 2007 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Edition 10Edition10m-classml 280 cdiml 320 cdiml 350ml 420 cdiml 500Ml280CdiMl320CdiMl350Ml420CdiMl500tuscaloosaFri, 13 Jul 2007 14:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Mercedes celebrates 10 years in Tuscaloosa with "Edition 10" M-Class]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/12/mercedes-celebrates-10-years-in-tuscaloosa-with-edition10-m-cl/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/12/mercedes-celebrates-10-years-in-tuscaloosa-with-edition10-m-cl/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/12/mercedes-celebrates-10-years-in-tuscaloosa-with-edition10-m-cl/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click image for gallery

Mercedes-Benz is celebrating 10 years of operation at its Tuscaloosa, AL facility, which is best known for producing the M-Class SUV. At a press event held at the plant and presided over by Dr. Z himself, the automaker presented a special edition version of its SUV stalwart dubbed "Edition 10." The Edition10 limited-edition package is a paint-and-trim deal that's quite good-looking, actually. The requisite badges are joined by other visual highlights such as darkened trim around the headlamps, darker taillamp lenses, a black chrome look to the grille, and a similar treatment on the hood vents. A two-tone interior and metallic pedals are also included, and based on what we see in the photos released, a metal steprail is also part of the package. No pricing for the Edition 10 option has been released yet, and we'd expect to see some additional shots of the SUV before all is said and done.

Press release follows the jump.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz M-Class "Edition 10"

Continue reading Mercedes celebrates 10 years in Tuscaloosa with "Edition 10" M-Class

Mercedes celebrates 10 years in Tuscaloosa with "Edition 10" M-Class originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10 years tuscaloosa10YearsTuscaloosaedition 10Edition10m classm-classMClasstuscaloosatuscaloosa plantTuscaloosaPlantThu, 12 Jul 2007 17:27:00 EST