Mercedes begins producing components for the eActros
The German aggregate plants of Mercedes-Benz are starting production of central components for the battery-electric eActros. These include the e-axle and the battery packs, which will be manufactured and assembled at the Gaggenau, Kassel and Mannheim locations.
The components that are entering serial production in the German plants will then be used in the series production of the eActros, which will begin on 7 October 2021 at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth. Specifically, the plant in Mannheim has begun to assemble the battery packs for the incoming electric truck, while the Mercedes-Benz plant in Kassel is assembling the electric axles. The Mercedes-Benz plant in Gaggenau is to take care of manufacturing the associated transmission components.
“The launch of component production for the first series-produced all-electric truck bearing the Mercedes star is of great significance for us. Because of our battery packs, electric axle and drive system components, we are extensively involved in making the eActros a vehicle of Mercedes-Benz quality that will be locally carbon neutral out on the road,” said Yaris Pürsün, Head of Global Powertrain Operations Daimler Truck, before adding: “Our first series-produced all-electric truck from Mercedes-Benz thus has impressive inner values because key components are produced at our German locations in accordance with top quality standards. This is ushering in a new era for the production and technology network of our German powertrain plants.”
In addition to the component production, four near-series units of the electric truck are going into operation before the imminent start of series production of the eActros on 7 October. Three vehicles are in shuttle service for Logistik Schmitt, a company based in the northern Black Forest, and for food logistics companies Simon Loos in the Netherlands and Tevex Logistics in North Rhine-Westphalia. Another eActros is in the configuration as a waste collection vehicle annd is planned for Remondis.
Rainer Schmitt, Managing Partner of Logistik Schmitt had a very positive reaction to being able to test the vehicle ahead of production, and said the company was looking forward to integrating the series version of the eActros: “An early prototype of the battery-powered eActros has been undergoing intensive practical testing at our company since July 2019 and clearly proved its worth. This vehicle has reliably travelled around 70,000 kilometres to date in all types of weather, carrying a total of more than 137,000 load units on just under 7,000 trips. In doing so, it has transported more than 40,000 tonnes of freight. We are very delighted that the prototype is now being replaced by a near-series eActros.”
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