Mercedes Benz ML320 SUV History Part 2

In April 1993, the parent company, then Daimler-Benz AG, a plant built in the U.S. in order to better serve the U.S. market and to underline the claim as a global business. In September of that year was the location decision, was founded after MBUSI. In July 1996 the plant of Daimler has invested U.S. $ 300 million had been done. In January and February 1997, the production of the Mercedes Benz ML320 SUV was launched the first generation, 320 in the top of the ML and the large Mercedes Benz ML320;).

The plan was initially to produce 65,000 copies per year. Sales begin in the U.S. was in September of that year. Due to the success of Daimler invested in 1998 and 1999 and 80 million U.S. dollars in the expansion of production by 20% to 80,000 units per year. Well rolled, carried out in two shifts, an average of 350 vehicles delivered daily. From the first-generation M-Class 571,000 units were produced. In August 2000, Daimler AG has announced new expansion plans. U.S. $ 600 million for an additional production line was built for the second-generation M-Class and GL-Class R and produce. From 1999 had until 2002 to meet demand in Europe may be the M-Class also comes at the Magna Steyr plant (Graz / Austria). With the completion of the expansion in late 2004 and early 2005, production has doubled in production volumes and surface, and the number of employees.


The Mercedes Benz ML320 SUV in 1997 was the first Mercedes Mercedes-Benz U. S. International in Vance in Tuscaloosa (Alabama, USA) produced. The designation 'M' had, however, were protected by BMW. Therefore, it was agreed with BMW in the name of M-class models, for example, Mercedes Benz ML320 SUV , however, under the symbol 'ML' sold (for example, Mercedes Benz ML320 SUV).