Meghana KandraMercedes is preparing to switch its manufacturing plants to make luxury electric vehicles. As the automaker plans to have reduced carbon emissions per passenger car by this decade compared to 2020. As a part of the mission, and to start EV manufacturing soon, the plants are being modified.
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Joerg Burzer, Board member for production and supply chain said, “We are ready for the rapid scaling of electric vehicle volumes,” Further added that the new setup was followed by talks between worker representatives and management. Plants in Sindelfingen, Bremen, Rastatt – all in Germany – and Kecskemet, in Hungary, will start production of new models in the top-end luxury, core luxury, and entry-luxury segments from the middle of the decade said, Mercedes. Battery systems will be supplied by a production network with factories in three continents, it said.
“The local production of battery systems is a key success factor for the Mercedes-Benz electric ramp-up and a decisive component in being able to meet the global demand for electric vehicles flexibly and efficiently,” it said in a statement.
Electrification
To facilitate this shift, Mercedes-Benz unveiled a comprehensive plan which includes significantly accelerating R&D. In total, investments into battery electric vehicles between 2022 and 2030 will amount to over €40 billion. Accelerating and advancing the EV portfolio plan will bring forward the tipping point for EV adoption.
The luxury car maker is currently preparing its global production network for electric-only output with the pace of the ramp-up designed to follow market demand. Thanks to early investments into flexible manufacturing, and the state-of-the-art MO360 production system, Mercedes-Benz can mass-produce BEVs already today. As soon as next year, eight Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles will be produced at seven locations on three continents. Furthermore, all passenger car and battery assembly sites run by Mercedes-Benz AG will switch to carbon-neutral production by 2022.
To enhance manufacturing efficiency, Mercedes-Benz is joining forces with GROB, a German global leader in highly innovative battery production and automation systems, strengthening its battery production capacity and know-how. The cooperation focuses on battery module assembly as well as pack assembly. Mercedes-Benz also plans to install a new battery recycling factory in Kuppenheim, Germany, to develop and secure recycling capacity and know-how. The start of operations will be in 2023, depending on the outcome of promising discussions with public authorities. Mercedes-Benz will continue the transformation of its workforce, making use of extensive re-skilling schemes, early retirement as well as buyouts. TechAcademies will be offering colleagues training for future-oriented qualifications.
Electrification plan details as mentioned in Mercedes