Mercedes-Benz introduced their M-Class for the 1998 model year. The first generation of M-Class is known internally at Mercedes as the W163. Built in Alabama, the W163 was available with either an inline four, a V6, or a V8 engine. The top of the range model for the W163 was the ML55 AMG, while other variants included the ML320, ML270 CDI, ML350, ML430, and ML500. Production of the W163 M-Class ended in 2005, with the introduction of the next generation W164 Mercedes-Benz M-Class.