Mercedes-Benz today announced a $1.3 billion, 300-job expansion of its Alabama auto assembly plant.

The project represents one of the largest single investments to date for the German automaker at the Tuscaloosa County site.

Crews already have begun moving dirt for the project, which will include the construction of a new 1.3 million-square-foot body shop, the rebuilding of part of the existing body shop, an expansion of the SUV assembly shop and various logistical and information technology upgrades.

The majority of the work is expected to be complete by the middle of 2017, and equipment installation will follow. The project will support the next generation of the plant's SUVs.

The expansion is called Project Gateway, said Jason Hoff, head of Mercedes' Alabama operations.

He added that it is a testament to the commitment of the plant's workforce.

"We call it a gateway to the future," he said. "We've been the home of Mercedes SUVs for almost 20 years, and this just further cements our position." 

The expansion will bring Mercedes' total investment at the plant up to about $5.8 billion, and it will raise the workforce of full-time Mercedes employees to 3,800.

The 300 new positions are permanent ones, plant spokeswoman Felyicia Jerald said, and 50 of them will be highly-skilled engineering positions.

Incentives for the project include $80 million in sales and property tax abatements over 20 years, according to the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority.

Barge Waggoner Sumner & Cannon Inc. is the general planner for the project, and BL Harbert/Gray A Joint Venture is the general contractor. Saiia Construction and C.S. Beatty Construction are both doing earth work for the project.

Mercedes began producing vehicles at its Tuscaloosa County factory in 1997. Today, workers there build the GLE-Class SUV, which used to be called the M-Class, as well as the GL-Class SUV, C-Class sedan and GLE Coupe.

Full Story: http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2015/09/alabamas_mercedes-benz_plant_a.html