Making Mercedes after all

Sixteen years ago, the Lowcountry romanced Mercedes-Benz executives with gourmet dining, a private harbor cruise and the finest Macanudo cigars. The goal was to persuade the luxury automaker to make cars here.

It didn't work. Mercedes went to Alabama instead.

By 2006, then-parent company DaimlerChrysler had relented -- in a way. It decided to make vehicles here, but not sexy cars. The plant would produce boxy Sprinter vans under the Dodge label.

This week's announcement that the vans assembled at the Daimler AG factory in North Charleston will lose the Dodge label and wear the Mercedes three-point star is sweet satisfaction. Mercedes-Benz vehicles will, after all, be built here.

Daimler executives don't foresee any major changes in production or design. They expect to maintain their present customer base.

But it will be nice, after all these years, for Lowcountry residents to see the Mercedes emblem and finally feel a sense of ownership.