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Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance, Alabama has offered its almost 4,000 employees voluntary buyout packages. The buyouts are the first in the history of the plant, which began production in 1997.

 

Workers arriving for the morning and evening shifts were told that Mercedes-Benz US International would give financial incentives, temporary medical benefits and assistance finding new jobs to anyone who accepted the offer.

 

“Because of what’s going on in the economy, car sales in general are down,” said Bill Taylor, CEO of MBUSI. “We, being in the auto industry, are certainly affected by the economy, and what we’re seeing is a reduction in demand.”

 

Taylor did not specify how many employees Mercedes hopes will take the buyouts to balance the dip in demand, or what approach the company would take if too few employees opted for the buyouts.

 

Felyicia Jerald, spokeswoman for MBUSI, stressed that the buyouts were not layoffs and that the plan is for workers who accept the package to leave the company by the end of 2008.

 

She declined to provide additional details on the incentives.

 

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