TUSCALOOSA, AL—Mercedes-Benz has begun construction of a new factory here to make batteries for electric SUVs.

The battery factory is located seven miles from the carmaker’s automotive assembly plant in Vance, AL, which opened in 1997. That facility makes the Mercedes GLS and GLE Class SUVs and the C Class car.

The battery factory is part of a $1 billion investment by the company in its Alabama manufacturing operations. The investment also includes a Consolidation Center, which will include preparation areas for body and assembly parts, and storage space for empty parts containers.

Mercedes has already invested more than $6 billion in its Alabama operations since 1995. It is expected that, once completed, the new facilities will create more than 600 additional jobs in Alabama.