Filed under: SUV, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury
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Since settling on Alabama as its North American manufacturing base, Mercedes-Benz has produced an endless stream of SUVs at its Tuscaloosa plant. Over the years, the facility has expanded to accommodate the M-Class, GL-Class and R-Class models. And in 2014 it will start producing the C-Class for the local market as well. Now the German automaker is planning on adding yet another line.
The expansion will encompass an investment of $350 million and the creation of 400 new jobs by the time production of the new model comes online in 2015. The question is, what will that new model be?
All Daimler is telling us is that it will be a new model, not the porting over of an existing one (as with the C-Class). Sources expect, however, that it will be a new crossover in the style of the BMW X6 - that is, four doors with a sloping roofline.
The photo above snapped at the site of the announcement certainly seems to corroborate the notion, as does earlier speculation. What the new model will be called remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: it won’t have much headroom in the back. Follow the jump for the press release.Continue reading Mercedes-Benz gearing up for new model in Tuscaloosa, X6 fighter on the way?
Mercedes-Benz gearing up for new model in Tuscaloosa, X6 fighter on the way? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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