"Its proximity to a very, very large market and international footprint for the company," explains Christian Scherer, head of Airbus strategy. "Sorry, it's as simple as that." It is the fourth FAL opened to support inexorably rising A320 production rates, but the Mobile site carries with it the ambition to strike at Boeing's manufacturing and political fortress. Indeed, Boeing pre-empted Airbus's planned announcement three days earlier, referencing its ongoing trade dispute over illegal subsidies. "No matter how many [jobs] are created [by the Airbus FAL], the numbers pale in comparison to the thousands of US jobs destroyed by illegal subsidies," Boeing said. Brégier reacts to Boeing's critique with a philosophical observation - and a challenge to his competitor. "I would say that if they are worried it is the right decision for Airbus because we are competing against them," he says, adding, "and they would be very welcome to invest in an assembly line in Europe. Please, Boeing, do it."