Mercedes-Benz GLE
The 1997 ML-Class, which was code named 'W163' was originally made to replace the G-Class, which was only 11 years old at the time of the plan. A plan was made in 1992 to base the car on the Mitsubishi Pajero, but in 1993, the plan was dropped because of 'technical issues'. In 1993, Mercedes had made a plan to search for a location to build a manufacturing plant. In July 1996, construction had started in Vance, a city in Tuscaloosa, with the first car being produced in February 1997.