Employees work on the C-Class sedan at Mercedes` plant in Vance.

Mercedes-Benz U.S. International is shifting production of the R-Class from Alabama to South Bend, Ind.

The automaker, which has been rapidly expanding in central Alabama, plans to use the increased capacity to boost SUV production at its Tuscaloosa County plant.

The company projects capacity will reach more than 300,000 vehicles in 2015 at the plant in Vance.

"With the introduction of the new GLE Coupé and the ongoing strong demand for SUVs, Plant Tuscaloosa needs all available production capacities for this segment," said Jason Hoff, president and CEO of MBUSI.

Mercedes-Benz will use previous R-Class capacity to produce more SUVs at the plant, as well as the new GLE Coupe. The plant also started producing the C-Class sedan in 2014 after focusing on SUVs for several years.

"Starting in the U.S. with production of one model in 1997 to four models today and soon to be five models in 2015, we are proud that our plant here in Tuscaloosa, Alabama continues to grow and change - always embodying our tradition of producing best in class vehicles," Hoff said.

Full Article: http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/news/2015/01/27/mercedes-benz-moving-r-class-production-to-indiana.html?ana=e_du_pub&s=article_du&ed=2015-01-27&u=xU+Dx/Kgco3CtPQHPoWC9VNHZ+0&t=1422393133