H R-Class ήταν μια παταγώδη αποτυχία για την Mercedes-Benz, με την Γερμανική εταιρία να παίρνει την απόφαση να μεταφέρει τη παραγωγή της από το εργοστάσιο της Tuscaloosa στην Alabama, σε αυτό της AM General στη πόλη Mishawaka της Indiana.
Η κίνηση αυτή ευθύνεται λόγω της συνεχώς αυξανόμενης ζήτησης των crossovers που κατασκευάζει η εταιρία στο εργοστάσιο της Tuscaloosa, που έχει ως αποτέλεσμα η R-Class να μην έχει χώρο στις γραμμές παραγωγής του συγκεκριμένου εργοστασίου. Η Mercedes υπέγραψε πολυετή συμφωνία με την AM General, με τις πρώτες R-Class να βγαίνουν στη παραγωγή από το εργοστάσιο της, το καλοκαίρι. Η R-Class συνεχίζει να κατασκευάζεται μιας και οι Κινέζοι εξακολουθούν να την αγοράζουν.
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AM GENERAL SELECTED AS MERCEDES-BENZ FIRST AND ONLY Contract Manufacturer of Vehicles in the United States
SOUTH BEND, Ind., – Jan. 27, 2015 — AM General LLC and Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc., today announced that Mercedes-Benz has selected AM General to manufacture the Mercedes-Benz R-Class luxury vehicle at AM General’s world-class 675,000 square-foot Commercial Assembly Plant. Because of increasing demand for its Sport Utility Vehicles and the need for greater production capacity in the U.S, Mercedes-Benz is moving production of the R-Class from its Tuscaloosa, Ala. plant to AM General’s Commercial Assembly Plant in Mishawaka, Ind.
Under the multi-year agreement, AM General becomes Mercedes-Benz’s first and only contract manufacturing operator in the U.S. AM General anticipates R-Class vehicles will start rolling off its production lines this summer and will hire and train hundreds of new workers in order to prepare for R-class production.
“AM General is pleased to have been selected by Mercedes-Benz to build this vehicle at our world-class commercial vehicle facility in Mishawaka. We look forward to a long term relationship with Mercedes and expanding our services to the U.S. and global auto industry,” said Charlie Hall, President and CEO of AM General.
AM General’s Commercial Assembly Plant is a full service manufacturing and support facility that utilizes state-of-the-art robotic welding, painting and assembly techniques coupled with a lean manufacturing culture and highly skilled workforce to meet the requirements of its customers.
“This is yet another example of AM General’s deep and growing commitment to the cities of Mishawaka and South Bend, the State of Indiana and our highly skilled, hardworking employees,” Hall added.
In this rapidly growing segment of its business, AM General has extensive experience as an automotive Contract Assembler and Original Equipment Manufacturer. Commercial vehicle contract assembly initiatives include work for General Motors and other Original Equipment Manufacturers. As an Original Equipment Manufacturer, AM General, through its wholly owned subsidiary Mobility Ventures LLC, designs, produces and supports the new MV-1 – the world’s first purpose-built, universally accessible vehicle which is expanding choice in transportation for families, livery and paratransit fleets.
About AM General
AM General designs, engineers, manufactures, supplies and supports specialized vehicles for military and commercial customers worldwide. AM General has more than five decades of experience meeting the changing needs of the defense and automotive industries, supported by its employees at major facilities in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, and a strong supplier base that stretches across 43 states. Please see more information about AM General at www.amgeneral.com
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