Mercedes-Benz High School Apprenticeship Program developed with the Alabama Department of Education

Tuscaloosa, AL. - The inaugural class of the Mercedes-Benz High School Apprenticeship Program was announced on August 20, 2003 and consists of 20 students from school systems throughout West Central Alabama. The announcement was made today by Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI), the Tuscaloosa-based manufacturer of the Mercedes-Benz M-Class vehicle, and the Alabama Department of Education in cooperation with Alabama Industrial Development Training.

"This is an outstanding group of young men and women who will become a par of something special," said MBUSI President and CEO Bill Taylor. "Our future products will have more complexity and more technology, so these students will be getting the skills necessary to produce world-class automobiles. This is a tremendous opportunity for any student entered in this program."

The 20 students will learn and train for up to a three-year period at MBUSI. The majority of classroom and industrial will be conducted at the Mercedes-Benz campus and plant site in Tuscaloosa. During the two to three-year apprenticeship period, students will learn about the key elements of automotive production that are specific to MBUSI, such as Production Systems; Automotive Systems, Body, Paint and Assembly Shop skills and processes; and Continuous Improvement and Quality.

Apprentices will receive training wages from MBUSI while enrolled in the program. Students successfully completing the apprenticeship program may be hired as full-time MBUSI production team members.

For more information on the MBUSI High School Apprenticeship Program, contact Huey Baker, AIDT, at (205) 507-2249 or hbaker@aidt.edu.