Mercedes-Benz plans to expand capacity at its Tuscaloosa, Ala., plant. This production expansion of the sport utility vehicles in the U.S. will create 300 new jobs over the next few years, as the company plans to meet rising demand for the utility vehicle in the luxury market. The investment of $1.3 billion into the expansion is designed to make the plant a high-tech location. The plant will also assemble the next-generation SUV, including hybrid versions.

Mercedes-Benz plans to expand capacity at its Tuscaloosa, Ala., plant.The overhaul will include construction of a body shop, which reports says that the German automaker may use more aluminum in its future vehicles. Vehicles with aluminum bodies are held together by adhesives rather than by the welds used to fashion a car body made of steel components. The SUV Assembly Shop will also undergo renovation, along with the plant’s logistics, IT systems and networks.

Tuscaloosa is connected to all Mercedes-Benz Cars locations globally, allowing a location independent access to data and process management. Every robot can be controlled and updated with new software programs. Big Data applications will be used for intelligent analyses and for an improvement of the production processes.

The current SUV Assembly Shop will be expanded by 13,000 square meters and receive a larger, more flexible “marriage” station, where the body is merged with the powertrain, allowing for production of a wider range of vehicles.

The Tuscaloosa plant began production in 1997. To date, Mercedes-Benz has made a $4.5 billion capital investment in the Tuscaloosa operations, which is now building the third generation GLE or M-Class. The plant added production of the R-Class in 2005, the GL in 2006, and the new C-Class sedan for the North American market in 2014. Some 2.2 million vehicles have rolled off the plant’s line for customers around the world.

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