VANCE, Ala. (WBRC) - Mercedes Benz US International restarted operations Monday at its plant in Vance.A month ago, Mercedes announced it was shutting down temporarily to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In the weeks following, we will gradually bring in additional Team Members to begin running at full production volume. Mercedes-Benz U.S. International has extended the production shutdown at its Tuscaloosa County plant through April 20.An initial shutdown of two weeks began March 23, but a spokesperson for the plant in Vance said that company officials elected to extend the delay because of the ongoing response to the coronavirus pandemic.“We will continue to monitor the situation closely,” the spokesperson said.Similar closures have occurred at other automotive production plants in Alabama, including the Honda assembly plant in Talladega County and the Hyundai factory south of Montgomery, where at least one worker had tested positive for the coronavirus.MBUSI announced it’s the initial shutdown of its Tuscaloosa County plant, which employs about 3,800 people, on the recommendation of international, national and local authorities.Operations will be resumed when the COVID-19 situation improves, the company said in a news release.“The employees’ health and safety has top priority at Mercedes-Benz,” the news release said. This content is being provided for free as a public service to our readers during the coronavirus outbreak. During our shutdown, we have monitored and learned from other Mercedes-Benz plants around the world as they returned to work. Our goal is a maximum reduction of personal contact and hygiene measures have been further intensified. ORIGINAL: Mercedes-Benz made the decision to temporarily halt production of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and vans beginning next week. We will continue to monitor federal and state guidance and regulations throughout this ramp up period, and will make whatever changes as may become necessary to ensure our team members safety and to ensure the required production capacities of the highly demanded SUV models coming out of Alabama.”Kelvin Reynolds is a reporter for WBRC FOX6 News in our Tuscaloosa Bureau.The search for a missing boater is happening on the Black Warrior River after a boating accident Tuesday evening.When it comes to younger children wearing them all day at school, some parents have concerns that masks may be causing their children harm. Digital access or digital and print delivery.
Please support local journalism by subscribing to The Tuscaloosa News at tuscaloosanews.com/subscribenow.Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com.Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. Work continues at Mercedes-Benz’s Vance manufacturing plant in Tuscaloosa County. Our Team Members’ health and safety has top priority at Mercedes-Benz. As tasks permit, our team members also working remotely from home. VANCE, Ala. (WBRC) - Mercedes Benz US International restarted operations Monday at its plant in Vance. A month ago, Mercedes announced it was shutting down temporarily to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
However, a report said the plant is being affected by shutdowns in Europe related to the coronavirus pandemic… We also obtained guidance from the CDC and benchmarked the best safety practices with groups like the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce, Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. Choose the plan that’s right for you. During the coronavirus closure, local plant officials monitored and learned from other Mercedes-Benz plants around the world as they returned to … The move, announced Friday, March 20, 2020, is a measure to help stop the spread of the coronavirus and to protect workers. The company said in a statement released earlier this month that it took recommendations into consideration from local, state and international authorities to extend a halt in operations by several weeks.The temporary shutdown began on March 23. And what Mercedes is beginning today is certainly moving in that direction,” Maddox told WBRC.Here is a statement from Mercedes-Benz: “The Mercedes-Benz Tuscaloosa plant (MBUSI) began gradually ramping-up production beginning Monday, April 27th onwards, starting with 1-shift production. ORIGINAL: Mercedes-Benz made the decision to temporarily halt production of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and vans beginning next week. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said Mercedes reopening could be a sign that other businesses may also reopen soon.“As we begin a new phase, I think you’re going to begin to see a gradual restart of the economy within a very measured approach. All appropriate precautions to prevent the infection of its employees will be taken.”See other coronavirus coverage here. Therefore, the halt of production and administration was a measure to ensure this and to further contain the spread of the pandemic.