Mercedes' Alabama Plant To Build SUV Kits For Asian Assembly.

The Detroit News (8/28, Tierney) reported, "Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz will produce SUV kits at its Tuscaloosa, Ala., plant for final assembly at production sites in India, Thailand and Indonesia, the company said" yesterday. "The plan marks an expansion of the Tuscaloosa plant's role in Mercedes' global production network. Mercedes' German rival BMW has been exporting SUVs built at its huge Spartanburg, SC, plant for several years." The automaker's "Tuscaloosa plant will produce SKD, or semi-knocked-down, kits with components for the M- and GL-Class SUVs and prepare them for shipping to the South Asian plants."

AFP (8/28) notes, "It would be the first time that Daimler will build its new Mercedes-Benz M and GL models outside the main SUV plant in Tuscaloosa in the United States, the" automaker said in a statement. "Assembly of the M class models would begin in India, Indonesia and Thailand this year, with the GL class following next year in India and Indonesia. Up until now, those production sites have been used to make the group's C, E and S models."

Are you Bill Murray ?

The M-Class will sell at 2.1M and the GL will sell at 3.2M

The M-Class will sell at 2.1M and the GL will sell at 3.2M

Impossible

I hope assembly in Thailand will enable competitive models on our market, even if we only end up with the smaller engine versions.

The M class might work here at the right price but 2.1M sounds too good to be true compared to BMW X series, or even Volvo XC pricing.

The M-Class will sell at 2.1M and the GL will sell at 3.2M

The M-Class will sell at 2.1M and the GL will sell at 3.2M

Impossible

... we shall see!

But I wouldn't be surprised if Mogandave's guesstimate is in the ballpark, especially after factoring in the and status level and perceived quality and luxury that comes with the Mercedes name.

The M-Class will sell at 2.1M and the GL will sell at 3.2M

The M-Class will sell at 2.1M and the GL will sell at 3.2M

Impossible

... we shall see!

But I wouldn't be surprised if Mogandave's guesstimate is in the ballpark, especially after factoring in the and status level and perceived quality and luxury that comes with the Mercedes name.

It doesn't matter which way you look at it, an ML (I assume it will be 250 CDI) is never going to be sold here or any where else for that matter at similar pricing pricing to the cheapest C Class or 1.8 S drive X1. It's a nice thought but simply can't and won't happen. The amount saved will likely be around 500,000THB. Factory SKD pricing is a lot more expensive than most expect.

At the moment since March this year the NEW ML Benz list price new is 4.4 million........... BMW X5 is 6.4 million.......... the Range Rover 6.3 million...... All in diesel form..

So with this "Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz will produce SUV kits at its Tuscaloosa'' make the ML class SUV even cheaper here ?

​Have seen a couple of 18 month old Diesel X5 For Sale, appears they lose 2 million in 18 months !!

​ Guess many wanting to spend this sort of money would go with the petrol Lexus RX @ 4.3 million.