German automaker Mercedes-Benz Group AG has announced a decision to move production of its popular GLC SUV to the United States due to Trump’s tariffs. The release of this model at the American Mercedes plant in Alabama is scheduled for the end of 2027, informs Bloomberg.
Earlier this month, the company announced plans to move manufacturing facilities to the U.S. amid rising costs associated with tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump that could significantly reduce the competitiveness of imported cars. However, at that time, Mercedes did not specify exactly which model we were talking about.
“If you see what we want to achieve with the sales of this model, it makes sense to bring it to the US market.” – said the head of Mercedes North America, Jason Hoff, during the press conference.
The GLC remains the most popular Mercedes import model in the US. In 2024, 64,163 units of this SUV were sold in the country, which is 58% higher than the previous year.
German car companies, including Mercedes, BMW and Porsche, have been hit hard by the increased import tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. At the same time, the steady demand for profitable SUV models and the slow pace of transition of American consumers to electric cars make the US market particularly attractive for German brands.
On March 25, 2025, Mercedes expressed concern about the European auto industry’s overdependence on US and Chinese technology. And on April 29, President Trump partially eased tariffs to give American manufacturers more time to adapt and move auto parts production to the United States. On the eve of this decision, the largest US automaker even withdrew its annual forecast due to the economic consequences of new customs restrictions.
