Following the common trend in today’s automotive industry, Mercedes-Benz has announced that it will be cutting production at its Alabama truck plant beginning this August. The Vance, Alabama plant produces the GL and ML-Class SUVs, as well as the R-Class crossover.
The production slowdown will see the plant’s Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks extended and also the elimination of six Friday night shifts through the remainder of the year.
“We are adjusting our production schedule for the remainder of the year in response to market demand,” plant spokeswoman Felyicia Jerald told Automotive News. “Obviously, we made this decision to stay competitive and guarantee our long-term success.”
Jerald failed to mention how long the extended breaks will last or how many vehicles will be cut from this year’s production schedule.
According to Mercedes, this is the first time since the automaker began producing vehicles in the U.S. 11 years ago that it has had to reduce production due to economic conditions.
