Mercedes-Benz Increasing Battery Production

By the end of this year, Mercedes-Benz plans to offer five purely electric models as well as 20 plug-in hybrids

German car maker Mercedes-Benz has announced its plan to expand its electric vehicle battery production. The company is therefore focusing on establishing a global battery production network and is investing more than one billion Euro. The network will consist of nine battery factories at seven locations in Europe, North America and Asia.

Mercedes-Benz is planning to expand it electric vehicle portfolio. The company already offers various electrified models in each segment - from the 48-volt electric system (EQ Boost) and plug-in hybrids (EQ Power) to fully electrically powered vehicles (EQ). The focus is clearly on gradually increasing the percentage of purely electrically powered vehicles in the Mercedes-Benz Cars portfolio.

By the end of this year, Mercedes-Benz plans to offer five purely electric models as well as 20 plug-in hybrids. In a few years, more than ten fully electric EQ models will be in series production. Mercedes-Benz Cars’ new-car fleet is to become CO2-neutral in less than 20 years. By 2030, the company wants plug-in hybrids or purely electric vehicles to account for more than 50% of its passenger-car sales, said Mercedes-Benz in a release.

“As a competence centre within our global battery-production network, the Kamenz site – with its broad product portfolio – plays a decisive role in the implementation of our “Electric first” offensive, says Jörg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz AG, Production and Supply Chain Management.

“Flexibility is the decisive feature of our global production network of vehicle and powertrain plants. Our goal is an organic global network in which production capacities can be flexibly shifted between plants around the world. With more than 10 fully electric EQ models and a large number of plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles - for which we produce the battery systems here in Kamenz and within our global network – we can flexibly and efficiently meet the worldwide demand for electric and hybrid vehicles and gradually increase the electrical share within our vehicle range.”

“The Kamenz plant is one of the pioneers in battery production worldwide and, in its function as the competence centre, it is a blueprint for the plants in our global battery production network. After Kamenz, Bangkok and Beijing, the next location to soon start battery production will be Jawor in Poland, followed by plants around Stuttgart as well as Tuscaloosa in the U.S. Each new plant will benefit from the experience of the other plants. Our battery production network is well prepared for the future of mobility,” added Jörg Burzer.

Source: Diamler