The first strategic step in the Mercedes-Benz electric model offensive has been taken. It was at a ceremony attended by Chancellor Angela Merkel, earlier this week, that Daimler AG announced the creation of one of the “largest and most modern battery factories”, through its subsidiary Accumotive.
This second lithium-ion battery factory located in Kamenz, in the Saxony region, is the result of a total investment of one billion euros. Markus Schäfer, member of the Board of Directors of Mercedes-Benz, highlighted the importance of the new mega-factory:
“Local production of batteries is an important success factor and a key element in flexibly and efficiently serving the worldwide demand for electric vehicles. This allows our network of production plants to position itself properly for the mobility of the future.”
Elon Musk, watch out!
After Volkswagen director Herbert Diess assumed that he wants to transform the brand into the world leader in electric mobility, it is time for another German brand to point batteries to Tesla.With the concept EQ, presented at the Paris Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz has launched a new generation of electric vehicles. By 2022, Daimler plans to launch more than ten new electric models in different segments – for this, in the next few years, another ten billion euros will be invested.
The first EQ model will roll off the production line at the Mercedes-Benz factory in Bremen by the end of the decade, while the more luxurious models will be produced in Sindelfingen. The brand estimates that the Electric vehicle proportion of total Mercedes-Benz sales worldwide will be 15-25% by 2025.
In addition to batteries for 100% electric propulsion models (passenger and commercial), the new plant will produce batteries for the energy storage units and for the new 48-volt electrical system, debuted in the S-Class and which will be gradually implemented in various models of the Stuttgart brand.
Mercedes-Benz will tackle the electric model market with the same weapons as the rival led by Elon Musk – its own semi-autonomous driving software and in-house battery production.
Production starts next year
With an area of around 20 hectares, the mega-factory will quadruple the production and logistics area in Kamenz. In the coming years, Accumotive will gradually increase the number of employees – by 2020 more than 1000 employees are expected. The start of production is scheduled for mid-2018.
