Mercedes-Benz U.S. International facts for kids
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Front entrance to the Mercedes-Benz visitor and training center in 2010.
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | Incorporated in 1993; production starts in 1997 |
| Headquarters |
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United States
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Area served
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United States |
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Key people
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Michael Göbel, President |
| Products |
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Number of employees
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6,000 (2021) |
| Parent | Mercedes-Benz Group |
Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, known as MBUSI, is a large factory in Vance, Alabama. This is where Mercedes-Benz makes many of its cars for the United States. The factory is located about 34 miles west of Birmingham. It is also about 19 miles east of Tuscaloosa.
The idea for this factory was announced in 1993. Production began in February 1997. The very first car made here was an ML320.
The first president and CEO of MBUSI was Andreas Renschler. He led the company until 1999. After him, Bill Taylor took over. Since 2009, other leaders have included Ola Kaellenius, Markus Schaefer, Jason Hoff, and Michael Göbel. Michael Göbel has been the president since 2019.
In 2009, the company announced a big change. They decided to move the making of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars to the Vance plant. Production of these cars started there in 2014.
The factory sits on 1,000 acres of land. The state of Alabama gave this land to Mercedes-Benz. This was part of Alabama's effort to get the factory built there. The plant also has special test tracks. These tracks are used to test cars on both regular roads and off-road paths.
Explore the Mercedes-Benz Visitor Center
Right at the factory, you can find the Mercedes-Benz Visitor Center. This center has a cool museum. It shows off many different cars from Mercedes-Benz history. The cars in the museum are changed often. This means you might see new ones each time you visit.
In November 2014, a Formula One race car was on display. This car was once driven by the famous racer Michael Schumacher. You can also book tours of the factory in advance. Visiting the museum is free for everyone. Factory tours cost $5.
Cars Made Here Now
The MBUSI factory makes several popular Mercedes-Benz models today. These include both gasoline-powered and electric SUVs.
- Mercedes-Benz GLE (since 2016)
- Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe (since 2016)
- Mercedes-Benz GLS (since 2016)
- Mercedes-Maybach GLS (since 2020)
- Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV (since 2022)
- Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV (since 2022)
- Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV (since 2023)
Cars Made Here Before
Over the years, the factory has also made other Mercedes-Benz models. These cars are no longer produced at this location.
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2015–2020)
- Mercedes-Benz GL-Class (2007–2015)
- Mercedes-Benz M-Class (1998–2015)
- Mercedes-Benz R-Class (2006–2015)
See also
