Mercedes-Benz has just announced that the German automaker will invest more than $2 billion into its Tuscaloosa, Alabama manufacturing facility. The cash is slated to go toward production of current the current M-Class, though funds will also go toward producing the next-generation GL-Class and C-Class at the factory. The funds will also be used to expand the overall capacity of the plant. The announcement came at a Job 1 celebration to mark the creation of the first production 2012 M-Class. Dieter Zetsche, head of Mercedes-Benz cars, said that the Tuscaloosa plant continues to serve as the blueprint for the automaker’s facilities outside of Germany.

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Mercedes-Benz also took the opportunity to announce that the company would donate an additional $100,000 to Alabama tornado relief and recovery efforts. The latest donation brings the company’s total contribution up to $1.1 million. The Tuscaloosa community was struck by an EF4 tornado last April that took the lives of 32 people. Click past the jump for Benz’s official press release.

Press Release/Pics: Autoblog