Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Wins 2011 Automotive News Suppliers' Choice Award
Alabama automaker ranked highly by suppliers in J.D. Power and Associates survey
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, August 1, 2011 - Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. was named a winner of the 2011 Automotive News Suppliers' Choice Awards recognizing outstanding work in bringing innovations to market. The announcement was made on Aug. 1 at the Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Mich. The winners were chosen through a detailed survey of suppliers that J.D. Power and Associates conducts for Automotive News every two years. It ranks North American automakers on their ability to support, foster and commercialize the suppliers' innovations.
The survey was launched in 2003. J.D. Power has conducted this research for Automotive News five times. Automakers are evaluated on five factors: openness to new ideas; ease of working with the automaker on innovative ideas; level of trust; willingness to provide financial incentives or rewards for supplier innovation; and ability to implement innovations. The 2011 study included responses from supplier CEOs, presidents and executives, and represents all areas of vehicle design, engineering and manufacturing. Responses on 15 automakers that manufacture vehicles in North America are included. The other top winners were BMW, Ford and Honda.
"All of us at Mercedes-Benz and Daimler AG are extremely appreciative of being selected for this award," said MBUSI's Vice President of Quality, Armin Willy, who accepted the award on behalf of Mercedes-Benz. "With strong brands and innovative products, we are focused on what we do best: producing inspiring premium automobiles. This award further confirms our commitment to work hand-in-hand with our suppliers to enhance our manufacturing processes, provide fascinating products for our customers and to continue to shape the future of mobility."
About MBUSI
The Tuscaloosa plant was founded in 1995 and started production in 1997. The Mercedes-Benz M-Class was the first product and has been built ever since the start of production in 1997, later joined by the SUVs of the GL- and R-Class. In 2010, the plant produced more than 125,000 vehicles and employed more than 2,800 team members as of 2010. As of 2014, the Tuscaloosa plant will be one of the four global production locations of the successor generation of the current Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and will build these vehicles for the North American market.
