Merc Cars Headed for Brunswick

Who says Mercedes is not doing well in the US? Aside from the successful sales for the first quarter of this year, Mercedes-Benz continues to make news in the United States.

Gov. Sonny Perdue of Atlanta congratulated Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) for choosing Brunswick as the site of its new vehicle preparation center or VPC for auto mobiles being imported into the United States.

With glee, the governor said they have made prudent investments in replacing the Sidney Lanier Bridge, deepening the Brunswick Harbor, completing the overpass on Highway 17 and constructing the North/South connector road on Colonel’s Island. He further said he hopes Mercedes-Benz USA is the first of United States’ many customers to experience the benefit of their increased accessibility for automobile manufacturers.

The announced 50,000 additional imported vehicles through Brunswick will be combined with the more than 75,000 Mercedes-Benz auto mobiles which are already exported through the Port of Brunswick each year. This consolidation is similar to the move of Hyundai/Kia in recent years of combining its import operations in Brunswick.
Mercedes-Benz USA President and CEO Ernst Lieb said such movement to Brunswick reflects a wide opportunity for Mercedes-Benz in the aspect of further improving efficiencies for their southeast Vehicle Preparation Center. This, according to him, is one of the crucial steps in the process of bringing new vehicles to the US market which is not so dominated by German cars like Mercedes.

He further said what makes Brunswick an excellent location for this facility is its immediacy to the port, coupled with improved railroad and highway access and room for expansion. He added that quality is the top in their lists of priorities. With that, the new VPC is a vital step toward consistently delivering the best auto mobiles to their dealerships and ultimately to their customers.

The new vehicle preparation center will either transfer or make an employment opportunity of 41 Mercedes-Benz USA jobs in Brunswick. This is in addition to other jobs that will be available for the shipping, rail and trucking industries.

Jacksonville is the location of Mercedes-Benz USA’s current vehicle preparation center.

The company expects the construction of the new VPC to be completed by the first three months of 2009.

After U.S. Customs, the Vehicle Preparation Center is the next stop for new vehicles destined for Mercedes-Benz dealerships throughout the United States domain. Equipped with advanced computerized control systems and inspection facilities which are designed to assure the high quality condition of each new auto mobile, the VPC is the final quality inspection point of new vehicles. Then, vehicles are ready for release in the market only after they have been thoroughly examined and have met the high standard of Mercedes-Benz.
In other words, the VPC will ensure that all Mercedes-Benz cars will have quality auto parts like a Mercedes oxygen sensor and will pass the standard.

Mack Mattingly, Chairman of the Board of Georgia Ports Authority, said Brunswick Port can give the needs of any automaker around the world through harbor deepening and new access to the south side of Colonel’s Island. He added that Mercedes-Benz USA in 13 consecutive years achieved progress in sales and with that the Georgia Port Authority is proud to continue the progress.

About Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA)

MBUSA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler North American Holding Corporation and is based in Auburn Hills. It is the one responsible for the service, sales and marketing of Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States.