MBN Automotive Inc., an automotive machining company headquartered in Germany, has opened a sales and customer support office in Birmingham’s Hardware Park. The company manufactures assembly line machines in Germany for Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen. The company plans to grow its sales team in Alabama.

Christian Gerlach, Managing Director of MBN GmbH, said the company has established itself as the leading supplier of equipment for chassis assembly for many Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz plants. This, along with the increasing shift in the United States towards electric mobility and the company’s “Fastener Loader” specifically designed for electric mobility, provides the foundation for the start and development here.

“Birmingham offers perfect conditions with its training centers, universities, the possibility to recruit employees and the central location between existing and potential new customers,” he said. “Likewise, the startup structure and access to a qualified supplier base appear to be very good. In addition, the Birmingham Business Alliance convinced us right from the start with their commitment and willingness to support us in our start and development in Alabama.”

The Birmingham location is MBN’s first office in the United States. It will serve its OEM customers here, aligning with its growth strategy and putting it in a competitive position to increase global sales.

The Birmingham Business Alliance assisted the company with office selection and community partnership connections, alongside partners at AlabamaGermany Partnership and the Alabama Department of Commerce, whose European lead generation consultant connected the company to The Alliance.

“Suppliers around the world are recognizing the Birmingham region as a central location to service automotive OEMs in Alabama and surrounding states,” said Ron Kitchens, CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance. “Our infrastructure and base of existing manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz and Honda, as well as their suppliers, give Birmingham a solid foundation on which to grow auto manufacturing in the Southeast.”