Germany - Mercedes-Benz has started the construction of its battery production facility in the Brühl sub-plant at Untertürkheim, Germany. This is part of the €1bn (US$1.13bn) investment that the OEM has set aside for its global battery production network, which currently comprises of nine battery factories at seven locations on three continents.
“Our powertrain production network is in the midst of the transformation,” commented Frank Deiß, head of powertrain production Mercedes-Benz Cars and site manager of the Mercedes-Benz Untertürkheim plant. “With the battery production at the Untertürkheim plant, we are further advancing the transition into a high-tech location for components of electric mobility. At the same time, we continue to produce conventional engines, axles, transmissions and components in large numbers. This flexibility of the team makes us strong.”
The battery production facility will cover 12,000 squared meters, and will be carbon-neutral during operation. It will supply electric vehicles in the EQ brand.
All employees working on the assembly line in the Brühl sub-plant will receive extra training and will earn qualifications in a pilot battery production factory. Mercedes-Benz has signed a job security agreement contract with the works councils, safeguarding jobs through to the end of 2029.
In October 2018, Mercedes announced it had started building a battery production facility in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It is located seven miles from the Mercedes-Benz Cars plant, which produced around 300,000 units in 2017, in order to support the production of electric SUVs under the EQ brand.
