Construction Under Way on $290 Million Automotive Plant Expansion in Alabama

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Construction is currently under way on a $290 million sport utility vehicle manufacturing plant expansion for Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Incorporated (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) in Vance, Alabama.

Construction started in April 2009 for a 200,000-square-foot building expansion of the company's existing body shop. The expansion will include the addition of new equipment and robotics, and will increase the manufacturing capacity of the company's new generation of sport utility vehicles, as well as of additional models. The new equipment will enable the company to build M-Class and GL-Class successors. The company currently makes the M-Class, GL-Class and R-Class SUVs. Approximately $150 million will be spent to expand the body shop and the rest of the $290 million will be used for equipment in the plant's paint shop and assembly areas. Overall completion for the expansion is slated for fall 2011. This is the only plant the company has in the United States.

Amason & Associates Incorporated (Tuscaloosa) was selected to provide general construction services for the building only.

Mercedes-Benz U.S., a subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz USA LLC (Montvale, New Jersey), which in turn is a subsidiary of Daimler AG (NYSE: DAI) (Stuttgart, Germany), employs approximately 3,800 people. The company assembles Mercedes SUVs for customers in more than 130 markets worldwide.

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View Project Report - 04003746

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