WOODSTOCK, Alabama – At a groundbreaking ceremony Friday October 5, Mercedes-Benz officials formally marked the start of construction on a 2 million-square-foot plant in Bibb County that will supply battery packs for the automaker’s Alabama-made electric vehicles.
At the event, Mercedes officials also said their Tuscaloosa County assembly plant this morning produced the first customer-ready 2020 GLE, the fourth generation of the sport utility originally known as the M-Class.
The battery plant, which will be located in the Scott Davis Industrial Park near the Woodstock community, is a key component in a $1 billion Mercedes expansion announced in September 2017.
The plan calls for Mercedes to begin producing electric SUVs at its sprawling assembly complex in Vance, about seven miles away, at the beginning of the next decade.

The redesigned, next-generation 2020 Mercedes GLE sport utility was on display at a groundbreaking for the automaker’s battery plant in Bibb County. Mass production of the SUV started at Mercedes’ Alabama assembly plant today.

Mercedes executives Markus Schäfer, left, and Jason Hoff stand with Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey after a groundbreaking ceremony for the automaker’s new battery plant in Bibb County.

Gov. Kay Ivey, center, joins Mercedes officials Jason Hoff, left, and Markus Schäfer in turning a shovel at a groundbreaking ceremony for the automaker’s battery plant in Bibb County.
[…] and opportunity, it would appear a new age is dawning, especially for the north end of Bibb County. Keep in mind a new Mercedes EV plant is under construction up there as well. That job market is hot and will be getting hotter. Hat tip to the leadership on the Bibb County […]