Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is hiring several hundred production team members by year’s end.
The hiring is being spurred by the growing demand for the vehicles the plant is already producing, plus its slated expansion with two electric vehicles — the EQS and EQE SUVs — in 2022. In addition, MBUSI also is opening an EV battery pack assembly facility on a second Alabama campus in Bibb County.
“MBUSI’s commitment to being the best luxury auto manufacturer in North America is most evident in our workforce,” said Michael Göbel, president and CEO of MBUSI. “As our production continues to accelerate and evolve, we are growing the team we’ve built with additional support on a local level.”
Jobs are available immediately in the assembly, body and paint shops, as well as at the battery plant, where workers will assemble new technology, high-voltage EV battery systems.
Workers with production experience, especially in the auto industry, as well as less-experienced workers who have completed manufacturing training programs are encouraged to apply at www.applymercedes.com. Applicants must have a high-school diploma or GED equivalent, one to three years of manufacturing experience and must be able to perform the essential functions of the job.
Team members hired as part of this program will be immediately eligible for health and life insurance; defined contribution retirement plan with a 401(k) match; an annual bonus; paid holidays, vacation and paid winter shutdown; tuition reimbursement and access to the on-site childcare, medical center and fitness center. Those hired under this program will start at an hourly pay rate of $20, rising to more than $25 an hour after regular wage increases over four years, plus a shift premium.
Alabama’s primary workforce training agency AIDT will be assisting with the hiring campaign. “This is an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of all the exciting new technologies in the transition of the world’s automobile manufacturing companies as they go from combustion engines to electric,” said Ed Castile, director of AIDT and deputy secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.
MBUSI opened in Tuscaloosa County in 1997 and currently employs approximately 4,400 people. Since 1995, Mercedes-Benz has invested more than $6 billion in the plant and expanded its involvement in the region in 2018 with the announcement of the 2-million-square-foot battery plant.
Mercedes announced earlier this year that it plans to have a battery electric vehicle in all segments the company serves by 2022 and that from 2025 onwards, all newly launched vehicle architectures would be electric-only, with customers being able to choose an all-electric alternative for every model the company makes.
