VANCE, Ala. (AP) -- Markus Schaefer has been named the new president and chief executive of the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa.
Schaefer will succeed Ola Kaellenius as the plant's leader in July 2010.
He has 20 years of experience with the company and was director of strategy for production for Mercedes-Benz cars from 2007 to 2010. He also spent five years as vice president of engineering for the company's U.S. division.
The company began production at the Alabama plant in 1997 and has undergone multiple expansions since. It employs about 3,000 people and builds several Mercedes-Benz models for global markets.
