Mercedes-Benz to Delay Next-Gen GLC US Plant Assembly Until May 2030

Mercedes-Benz plans to delay assembly of its next-generation GLC model at its Vance, Alabama plant in the United States from the originally scheduled end of 2027 to May 2030. Mercedes-Benz has not officially confirmed the production plan adjustment or related production targets. A Mercedes-Benz spokesperson said the company currently will not provide updates on production timing or allocation for individual future models, and emphasized that its commitment to the Tuscaloosa plant and its plan to invest $7,000,000,000 in the United States through 2030 remain unchanged. Earlier in 2026, Mercedes-Benz and Alabama officials announced plans to invest approximately $4,000,000,000 in the Vance plant for future SUV projects including the GLC as well as updated versions of the GLE and GLS. After expansion, the plant's output could exceed 280,000 vehicles in 2028. In the first 12 months after production begins, the next-generation GLC is expected to have an output of approximately 50,000 vehicles, a figure not tied to a specific calendar year. The current GLC is produced in Europe for multiple markets. The Vance plant has been producing SUVs since the 1990s, currently including models such as the GLE, GLS, EQE SUV and EQS SUV. In addition, Mercedes-Benz produces the Sprinter van in South Carolina. The report did not specify the reasons for the production delay. Under the US-EU trade framework, passenger cars imported from the EU are currently subject to a combined tariff of 15%.