Mercedes-Benz Prepares to Move More Production to United States
Filed under: Wheels
The lines distinguishing between foreign and domestic cars continue to blur, especially among luxury cars. Mercedes-Benz, for example, already assembles its M-Class, GL-Class and R-Class crossovers right here in the United States. And starting in 2014, a portion of assembly for the upcoming next-generation C-Class will move as well to MBUSI, the company's assembly plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Only one-fifth of overall C-Class production will shift to the United States, will the remaining portion will switch places with the SL-Class roadster between the company's domestic plants in Sindelfingen and Bremen. The move is expected to help Mercedes combat the effects of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, and also help it meet local demand in North America, where the C-Class is its most popular and hottest-selling product. The question remains, is a Benz made in America still a foreign car or are Mercedes becoming domestic products?
