A German-based automotive machining company has established a Birmingham presence.
MBN Automotive has opened a sales and customer support office in Hardware Park. The company manufactures assembly line machines in German plants for automotive giants such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen.
The company is planning to grow its sales team in Alabama.
“Birmingham offers perfect conditions with its training centers, universities, the possibility to recruit new employees and the central location between existing and potential new customers,” said Christian Gerlach, managing director of MBN GmbH. “Likewise, the startup structure and access to a qualified supplier base appear to be very good."
The Hardware Park office is the company's first in the United States and serves its original equipment manufacturing (OEM) customers. According to a release, the new office aligns with the company's growth strategy and puts it in a competitive position to increase global sales.
The Birmingham Business Alliance assisted MBN Automotive 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 Birmingham Business Alliance.
“Suppliers around the world are recognizing the Birmingham region as a central location to serve automotive OEMs in Alabama and surrounding states,” said Ron Kitchens, CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance, in a statement. “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.”
