Mercedes gearing German plants for electric car production
Daimler is readying its component plants in Hamburg and Berlin to incorporate key components for electric mobility. In future, the factories will supply electric drive modules, rear axles and lightweight components for the Mercedes EQC.
The EQC is Daimler’s first large scale electric car that will be manufactured in Bremen, close to Hamburg from 2019.
Mercedes calls their factories in Berlin and Hamburg their northern facilities and manages them as a joint entity since 2017. In the case of Hamburg, they will start producing electric drive modules, rear axles, lightweight components and integrated starter generators (iSG). The latter is for mild-hybrid vehicles.
From the beginning of the next decade however, the Mercedes plant in Berlin will assemble the electric drive module for future EQ brand vehicles. The drive consists of more than 60 parts and weighs 165 kilos. Hence Frank Deiß, head of Powertrain Production Mercedes-Benz Cars, emphasises that the new task will help build up “know-how” among the workers.
Taking a global perspective, both the Berlin and Hamburg factory thus become part of Daimler’s worldwide network of production hubs for electric mobility. Apart from drive train and other components for electric cars, this includes battery assembly. Globally, Daimler is investing more than one billion euros in a total of eight battery factories at six locations and on three continents reportedly.
Mercedes-Benz targets the electrification of its entire portfolio by 2022.
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