Battery production at the Mercedes-Benz factory in Untertuerkheim, near Stuttgart, will begin at the end of the decade.
After workers, worried about their jobs, went on strike last month, Daimler reassured them that Untertuerkheim will be developed into a high-tech ‘competence centre’ for integrating the electric powertrain into production, testing electric-drive prototypes, and manufacturing batteries and other components for electric cars.
The new battery production facility will be in addition to Daimler’s two battery plants in Kamenz and one in Beijing.
“In the coming years, we plan to produce a rising number of powertrains for conventional and hybrid vehicles. At the same time, we are creating competitive conditions in our plants with regard to electric mobility,” Mercedes-Benz Cars production chief Markus Schaefer said.
By 2025, full-electric vehicles will likely account for between 15% and 20% of Mercedes’ total global unit sales.
The carmaker plans to launch a total of 10 SUVs, sedans and compacts under its new EQ sub-brand over the next seven years. The first model, a crossover based on the Generation EQ concept, is due to launch next year.
