Mercedes-Benz Launches Graduate Fellowship Program with UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI) has announced the creation of a Graduate Fellowship Program in conjunction with The University of Alabama – a unique opportunity for graduate students to gain exposure to leadership and management principles in one of the most advanced automotive manufacturing plants in the world.   The two students selected for the Mercedes-Benz Graduate Fellowship – beginning Fall of 2010 — will alternate semesters between UA graduate course work and working for MBUSI in Vance, Ala.  In addition to a paid scholarship, the program will provide benefits and an offer of full-time employment upon graduation.

“Mercedes-Benz not only invests in technology to grow the bottom line, but we also believe it is equally important that we invest in our people – that’s where our talent and our future lies,” said Ola Kaellenius, President and CEO of MBUSI.  “We’re pleased to introduce this Graduate Fellowship Program, which will not only help us obtain the talent we will need in the future, but also will help us develop the business leaders of tomorrow.”

“We are very pleased to partner with Mercedes-Benz in offering this outstanding fellowship to our students,” said UA President Robert E. Witt. “This is truly a rare opportunity for students to earn a graduate degree at The University of Alabama while working with a premier international company.”

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

• Student must be enrolled in the UA Co-Op Program each work term;
• Student must maintain a 3.0+ GPA at UA;
• Student must maintain full-time graduate student status, be in good standing at UA, and be enrolled in 9-12 hours during school terms;
• Student must complete one semester of Co-Op work during their academic graduate fellowship.

Throughout the duration of the graduate fellowship, students will be paid for all work performed at Mercedes-Benz, as well as provided with scholarship money, a housing allowance, and health benefits.  The compensation is as follows:

• Up to $5,000 per semester for UA tuition, fees and books;
• Housing allowance of $500 per month;
• Full-time hourly wages of $19 per hour;
• Single or family health insurance coverage;
• Full-time employment with a competitive salary and benefits package upon completion of UA graduate program.

Program disciplines will include finance, accounting, electrical engineering, electrical engineering with computer options, mechanical engineering, or operations management. This new program will be funded in part by interest from a $1 million endowment established in 2001 with the University by MBUSI and its parent company, Daimler AG. For the past nine years, the endowment has provided generous funding for UA’s Cooperative Education Programs, German studies and other programs in the Colleges of Business, Engineering, and Communication and Information Sciences.

Students interested in more details about the Mercedes-Benz Graduate Fellowship should contact the Co-Op Office on UA’s campus at 205/348-6422.

About Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc.

MBUSI began production at the Alabama plant in 1997 with the introduction of the M-Class.  A $600-million expansion was undertaken from 2001 through 2004 and the plant now includes two assembly shops, two paint shops and an expanded body shop.  A $290-million expansion announced in early 2009 is adding another 200,000 square feet to support the plant’s plans to build out the current models while preparing for successor products.  Construction and installation of equipment is slated for completion in 2011.  In late 2009, Daimler AG also announced that the next generation C-Class – scheduled for launch in 2014 — will be built at MBUSI.  The Team Members of MBUSI take pride in their commitment to the customer by building superior quality luxury vehicles.  More information on MBUSI and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com and www.maybachusa.com.