ALABAMA-ESSLINGEN-MERCEDES-XCHANGE
Alabama-Esslingen-Mercedes-Xchange (AEMX) Program
“The combination of showing that you can learn a new language to the point of fluency in two years and gaining engineering experience at one of the top companies in the world is an indispensable item on your resume.”
– Carter Boyle, Cohort 2, Freshman 2015
Alabama-Esslingen-Mercedes-Exchange
The AEMX program is the successor to the “Two Steps Ahead” initiative founded by Dr. Bharat Balasubramanian. With MBUSI in Vance, AL and Hochschule Esslingen in Esslingen am Neckar, Germany as core partners, it provides top undergraduates with advanced automotive training and exposure to Germany’s high-tech Baden-Württemberg region. By combining technical and cultural skills, AEMX prepares students for successful careers in global companies like Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.
DR. BHARAT BALASUBRAMANIAN AND AEMX
The Alabama-Esslingen-Mercedes-Xchange Program is a sequel to the “Two Steps Ahead” program founded by former Daimler AG vice president Dr. Bharat Balasubramanian. After training ten cohorts of the “Two Steps Ahead” International German Student Exchange Program (IGSEP), the new program has been expanded to include Mercedes-Benz US International, Inc., in Vance/Alabama as a core partner. The AEMX program allows top undergraduate students to gain experience with state-of-the-art automotive engineering technology and exposure to the high-tech environment in the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, home to Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Bosch and ZF. In addition to technical knowledge, students acquire cultural skills to make them more successful in multinational companies.
https://news.ua.edu/2017/01/ua-offering-engineering-course-taught-in-german/
Germany / Esslingen am Neckar
The beautiful and historic town of Esslingen nestled in between vineyard-clad hills and along the Neckar river, will host students during their year abroad. Esslingen is located approximately six miles outside of Stuttgart, the capital of the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, which is full of cultural amenities and hosts a plethora of German festivals year-round. Transportation is made easy by the VVS, the Stuttgart metro train system, including S-Bahn, U-Bahn and regional trains, which allows for ease of access to anywhere that students would like to go around Stuttgart and beyond.
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz, a global icon of prestige and innovation, offers AEMX students an unparalleled bridge into the world of elite engineering. Through this partnership, students gain exclusive access to internships at the Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc. (MBUSI) plant in Alabama, as well as the chance to work at the company’s global headquarters in Germany. This international exposure provides more than just technical skill; it fosters the cultural fluency and global mindset essential for modern leadership. By working across two continents, students will develop the vision needed to drive the next generation of automotive technology.
