AM General, which has discharged its responsibilities as Mercedes-Benz's first and only contract manufacturer in the US, flagged off R-Class at its commercial vehicle assembly unit in Mishawaka, Indiana.
AM General's commercial assembly plant is not only a manufacturing unit but also a support facility deploying state-of-the-art robotic welding, painting and assembly techniques.
AM General commercial president Howard Glaser said: "The luxury R-Class is a testament to the demand for quality, innovation and performance that we share with our partners at Mercedes-Benz and we thank them for their commitment to our facility and operation here in Indiana. AM General is the global leader in advanced vehicle production and we stand ready to meet the needs of auto companies here in the US and around the world.
"We look forward to continuing to deliver world-class vehicles for Mercedes-Benz and other customers as this segment of our business continues to grow."
AM General and Mercedes-Benz had inked a pact to move output of the R-Class luxury vehicle, which is only sold in China from Mercedes-Benz's Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant to AM General's 675,000ft2 commercial assembly plant.
The initiative is expected to generate over 200 employment opportunities at AM General.
Indiana Governor Mike Pence said: "Companies like Mercedes-Benz and AM General have realized the potential of the pro-growth, low-regulation environment that Indiana provides.
"Indiana leads the Midwest in fields like manufacturing and innovation, and I'm thankful to join AM General as Mercedes-Benz takes this next step to begin production of their vehicle right here in the Hoosier State. With the help of our outstanding Hoosier workforce, I am certain that Mercedes-Benz will continue to see long-term success here in Indiana, a state that works."
