Mercedes-Benz cars have been on the roads for nearly 100 years, but their roots extend back a bit further. In 1886, an engineer by the name of Karl Benz used his wife’s dowry to build what is considered the world’s first automobile, the Benz Patent Motorwagen. Essentially a motorized stagecoach, the vehicle was a three-wheeled machine powered by a gas engine.
Another inventor, Gottlieb Daimler, made the first four-wheeled automobile in the same year. Fast forward nearly two decades, and Daimler’s sales partner helped develop a competitive car meant for racing, naming it after his daughter, Mercedes.
Both Mercedes and Benz marketed high-performance luxury cars throughout the early 1900s, but the economic turmoil of the 1920s brought hardships. These conditions led the two manufacturers to creative problem solving, and a collaboration was born.
Mercedes-Benz was officially founded in 1926 in Stuttgart, Germany, and the headquarters remain there today. They sell approximately 2.5 million cars annually and have become the world’s leading producer of premium vehicles. They are owned by the parent company Daimler Truck, a brand that also produces commercial trucks, buses, and other vehicles.
Producing over 2 million vehicles annually and available worldwide, Mercedes-Benz has come a long way since the 1800s. Are these cars still being manufactured in Germany? Or elsewhere? Read on to find out.
Verdict: Where Are Mercedes Cars Made?
Mercedes-Benz cars are produced worldwide. The majority of vehicles are manufactured in Germany, but production sites are also located in 16 other countries across five continents. Locations include Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, the United States, and more.
The brand’s largest facilities are located in Germany. These include the Sindelfingen plant (25,000 workers) and the Bremen plant (12,500 workers).
According to reports, the first facility built outside of Germany was a manufacturing plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, which was constructed in 1995. This site directly employs about 3,700 people and mainly produces the following models: GLS, GLE, GLE Coupe, and C-Class.
Aside from the Alabama manufacturing facility, Mercedes-Benz also owns dealerships, partner sites, and financial services, adding to its American employer impact.
Mercedes Manufacturing Plants In The USA
| Facility Name | Location | Annual Production Capacity | Primary Models |
| Mercedes-Benz US International Production Facility | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | 260,000 | GLS, GLE, GLE Coupe, C-Class Sedans |
International Mercedes Manufacturing Plants
Mercedes-Benz manufactures vehicles and components across 17 countries, mainly out of Germany. Here is a list of their top manufacturing locations:
| Facility Name | Location | Annual Production Capacity | Primary Models |
| Bremen | Germany | 325,000 | C-Class, E-Class, SL, SLC, GLC, GLC Coupe |
| Rastatt | Germany | 231,000 | A-Class, B-Class, GLA |
| Sindelfingen | Germany | 205,000 | CLS, S-Class, E-Class, AMG GT, Maybach |
| Beijing | China | 571,000 | C-Class, E-Class, GLC, GLA |
| East London | South Africa | 70,000 | C-Class |
How To Tell Where Your Mercedes-Benz Car Is Made
You can easily use your vehicle’s VIN to find out where it was made. The VIN, or Vehicle Identification Number, provides information such as the vehicle’s country of origin and the plant where it was manufactured.
To find the VIN on your Mercedes-Benz, you can look through the windshield for an information plate on your dashboard, the driver’s side door jamb, or on the engine block under the hood. You can also check your vehicle registration or owner’s manual. Once you find the VIN, you can use a free service like faxvin.com to pull up even more information!
Other Manufacturers
- Kia Motors
- Honda
- Toyota
- Nissan
- Subaru
- Hyundai
- Ford Motor Company
- Dodge Trucks
- Chrysler
- Jeep
- Chevy
- Tesla Motors
- Rivian
- Mazda
- Audi
- Porsche
- BMW
- Jaguar
- Land Rover
- Volkswagen
