Airbus breaks ground for first U.S. assembly line in Alabama
MOBILE, Alabama — As community leaders, elected officials, suppliers, construction officials and more spoke at the Airbus groundbreaking for the company’s first U.S. final assembly line (FAL) this morning, each concluded their remarks with the same theme: “It is a groundbreaking day.” It is a groundbreaking day for Airbus, as it expands its global footprint…
Safran Engineering Services, first Alabama Airbus supplier, marks opening in Mobile
MOBILE, Alabama –- The first Airbus supplier to land in Mobile Brookley Aeroplex, Safran Engineering Services, did some celebrating of its own today before the aviation giant staged a groundbreaking ceremony at the site where it will produce the A320 family of passenger jets. At a grand-opening ceremony this morning, Bruno Bernard, chief executive of…
Mobile Brookley Aeroplex positioned to be anchor in growing aerospace corridor
MOBILE, Alabama – Mobile Brookley Aeroplex, where Airbus is constructing a $600 million passenger jet assembly line, is positioned to become the anchor of an expanding Gulf Coast aviation and aerospace corridor. Airbus’ final assembly line at the Brookley complex will produce the A320 family of narrow-body jetliners, with the first customer delivery taking place…
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley signs legislation meant to help land Airbus suppliers
MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Governor Robert Bentley today signed legislation aimed at attracting thousands of additional jobs to Alabama. The Alabama Commercial Aviation Business Improvement Act will help the state recruit more aerospace industry suppliers. Those suppliers are expected to locate in the region as Airbus builds its first U.S.-based production facility in Mobile. Groundbreaking for the…
Alabama-made Mercedes-Benz M-Class to get armored version
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Mercedes-Benz is producing an armored version of its Alabama-made M-Class, a heavy security model called the M-Guard that starts at around $135,000. According to a report on al.com, the base of the M-Guard will be at the company’s Vance plant and modifications made at another location. The model is reinforced with bulletproof…
Honda shows off Alabama-made 2014 Acura MDX in New York
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — The first Alabama-made 2014 Acura MDX sport utility should move into production at Honda’s manufacturing plant in Lincoln at the end of April, plant officials said after the model debuted at the New York International Auto Show today. The redesigned Alabama-made 2014 Acura MDX is quicker, more aerodynamic and features a new…
How it will be made in Alabama: Airbus A320 production, from start to finish
MOBILE, Alabama — What will Airbus A320 production on the aviation giant’s final assembly line at Mobile Brookley Aeroplex look like? A video from Airbus paints a picture of how the A320 family of aircraft produced in Alabama could come together in the company’s new $600 million facility beginning in 2015. In the video, an A320 family jetliner is…
Hyundai manufacturing plant in Alabama sets records as activity hums around clock
MONTGOMERY, Alabama – The Hyundai manufacturing plant in Alabama, already one of the U.S. auto industry’s most productive, is set to power output to record levels in 2013 after adding a third shift at the $1.7 billion facility. The third production shift, initiated last September, provided an immediate capacity boost at a plant that Automobile Magazine named…
Mercedes-Benz recruiter sees more expansion for Alabama auto manufacturing sector
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Billy Joe Camp had a front-row seat for Project Rosewood, the recruiting effort that brought Mercedes-Benz to Alabama, and has witnessed every development in the Alabama auto manufacturing industry ever since. He remains bullish on the sector’s prospects after two decades of dynamic growth. Back in 1993, Camp headed the Alabama Development Office,…
Honda prepares to roll out new Alabama-made Acura MDX sport utility vehicle from Lincoln plant
LINCOLN, Alabama – The newest Made-In-Alabama vehicle, the Acura MDX, will arrive in mid-2013 at dealer showrooms across the nation, adding a touch of luxury to the line-up produced in the state. The Alabama-made Acura MDX also will be heading to a distant market – China. The Honda plant in Lincoln has been preparing to introduce…
