8 APRIL 2025IN MYPINIONNAVIGATING COMPLEXITY: THE UNSUNG HEROES WITHINBy Rory Hepner, Directory Global Vehicle Logistics and Customs Operations, Mercedes-Benz (ETR: MBG)Finished vehicle logistics (FVL) has a unique role within an automobile manufacturer's wholly-owned sales and marketing company. This role is seldom fully understood or properly appreciated by either the organization's manufacturing or sales/marketing department. FVL is often an orphan, devoid of a champion within either organization. The person responsible for FVL inside the marketing/sales company is not for corporate peacocks or those who shy away from a challenge.This is the unique position MBUSA, LLC (MBUSA) finished vehicle supply occupies in the Mercedes-Benz AG (MBAG) family. In simple terms, MBAG has a manufacturing component and a sales/marketing component. MBUSA is the exclusive sales and marketing entity for MBAG in the United States. MBUSA reports to the marketing/sales organization in MBAG, which is responsible for the worldwide sales/marketing of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, including sport utility vehicles (SUVs). The plants that manufacture Mercedes-Benz vehicles worldwide report to the manufacturing organization within MBAG.Rory Hepner
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