Mercedes-Benz will invest $290 million to expand its factory in Vance, Alabama, according to the Birmingham News. The News reports that the company, a division of Germany-based Daimler AG, will expand the existing plant body shop by 200,000 square feet. The Vance factory currently produces the Mercedes M-Class, GL-Class, and R-Class vehicles, but a Mercedes spokesperson quoted by the News says there are no specific products attached to this project. "We are simply putting ourselves in a position to be ready whenever a decision is made about our future products," says Felyicia Jerald. There are no new jobs planned with the expansion and the plant is currently operating on a four-day workweek. The News also reports that a local industrial development authority has approved $11.5 million in tax breaks and a $150,000 grant for improvements to prepare the site for the expansion.
