10,000th Mercedes-Benz M-Class Rolls Off Production Line
28 October 1997
10,000th Mercedes-Benz M-Class Rolls Off Production Line
TUSCALOOSA, Ala., Oct. 28 -- The 10,000th M-Class All-
Activity Vehicle has rolled off the production line in Tuscaloosa, marking
another milestone for the first Daimler-Benz passenger vehicle manufacturing
facility in the United States.
"Producing our 10,000th vehicle is another important milestone in our
plant start-up," said Bill Taylor, Vice President of Operations for Mercedes-
Benz U.S. International (MBUSI). "It's a tremendous credit to all our team
members that we are on schedule and that the M-Class has been so well received
in the market."
Production, which began earlier this year, continues to steadily increase,
with some 150 vehicles currently coming off-line daily. The plant, still in
its ramp-up stage, will reach full production during the first quarter of
1998, with some 270 vehicles produced each day. Currently there are
approximately 1,300 team members working at the plant in two shifts. Annual
production for 1998 is 65,000-70,000 units, with more than half for the North
American market.
The 3.2 liter, V6 ML320 went on sale last month in North America and will
be launched in Europe and other markets in spring 1998. The vehicle has
already been acclaimed as a segment leader by the automotive press, and
customer demand has been unprecedented.
The M-Class combines the traditional benefits of a sport utility vehicle
-- true off-road capability, rugged design, generous cargo room and towing
capacity -- with the core attributes of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, such as
performance and handling, safety, quality, comfort and luxury. The
Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price on the ML320 is $33,950.
Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. is a member of the Daimler-Benz
Group. Daimler-Benz is the world's most comprehensive provider of
technologically advanced transportation products, traffic systems and
services, and has 290,000 employees and revenues of approximately $70 billion.
Daimler-Benz is focused on the development and manufacture of Mercedes-Benz
cars and commercial vehicles, Freightliner trucks, rail systems, diesel
engines and microelectronics. Daimler-Benz Aerospace builds aircraft and
space systems and Daimler-Benz InterServices provides leasing and sales
financing, mobile communications and information technologies. North America,
where Daimler-Benz employs more then 18,000 people, is the largest regional
market outside of Europe and accounts for approximately 20 percent of
worldwide revenues. In 1993, Daimler-Benz became the first German company to
list its stock on the New York Stock Exchange.
SOURCE Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc.
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