Breaking ground on the new Mercedes-Benz battery factory are, from left to right, Jason Hoff, president and CEO of MBUSI, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and Markus Schafer, member of the divisional board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production and Supply Chain. Credit: Made in Alabama.
Mercedes-Benz U.S. International broke ground recently on a battery plant in Bibb County, near its Vance, Ala. plant.
The plant, located in the Scott G. Davis Industrial Park in Bibb County, will provide batteries for future electric SUVs under the product and technology brand EQ.
The battery plant is part of a
$1 billion expansion Mercedes-Benz announced last year for its Alabama plant to set up electric vehicle production in the United States. The company is also building a new $248.2 million Global Logistics Center and a new after-sales North American hub on 278 acres in the Scott G. Davis Industrial Park in Bibb County, both providing a $307.9 million annual economic impact on the state and $285 million impact on the Birmingham region. With the battery plant, Mercedes-Benz said its Bibb County campus will employ at least 600 people.
The $1 billion expansion also included production of the new Mercedes-Benz GLE, which is based on a completely new SUV platform, assembled in its Alabama plant. The first car rolled off the line the same day as the ground breaking.
“Just as Mercedes helped put our state on the cutting-edge of automotive manufacturing, Alabama will help put Mercedes on the cutting-edge of electric vehicle development,” Governor Kay Ivey said. “We continuously strive to reaffirm the ‘Made in Alabama’ brand as one of excellence. So, naturally, there is no better state for Mercedes to building upon their world-class brand of excellence than right here in Alabama.”
Mercedes-Benz worked closely with the State of Alabama Department of Commerce, the Bibb County Commission and the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) to bring the project to Bibb County.
“Mercedes is committed to be a world leader in the development and production of electric vehicles,” said Jeff Traywick, who managed the economic development project for the BBA. “The announcement of its first U.S. facility for the production of battery packs and battery analysis solidifies the commitment through this major investment in our region. We look forward to seeing the growth of its second campus in Bibb County. These projects will bring hundreds of much-needed jobs and capital investment to that part of our region.”
Mercedes-Benz has invested more than $6 billion in its Alabama operations since 1995.
“Mercedes’ commitment to Alabama has been a source of pride and economic growth in our state for many years, and the company’s continuing investment has stimulated thousands of additional jobs as well as investments by other companies, said Brian Hilson, president and CEO of the BBA. “This latest investment by Mercedes in Bibb County, where batteries will be assembled to support world-class electric vehicles, is an exciting economic development project for our community. The Birmingham Business Alliance thanks Mercedes as well as our state and local partners who teamed together to make this project successful.”