Mercedes gets ready for new EV platforms

Mercedes is investing heavily to make its production network fit for the new platforms introduced from 2024. According to a German media report, the manufacturer will start converting its plant in Rastatt this summer. It is where Mercedes will build its first model based on the Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA).

Mercedes is doing more than just upgrading the plant in Rastatt: Plants in Kecskemét, Hungary, and Beijing will also be converted. In June, Mercedes announced it would invest more than €2 billion in its European production sites. Jörg Burzer, Head of Production at Mercedes-Benz, now told Automobilwoche that the carmaker was investing “a three-digit million amount per plant.”

Instead of seven compact models, there will only be four in the future. The first of these is likely to be the successor to the CLA. A model from the C-Class segment based on the all-electric MB.EA architecture is also planned for Kecskemét. “Two sporty AMG.EA models will be added to the lineup later, both of which will be produced exclusively in Sindelfingen,” says Burzer, adding that it was too early to talk about anything that would come after that.

In light of possible subsidies in the US, Mercedes also considers expanding its plant in Tuscaloosa. “We’re obviously looking at what happens with the Inflation Reduction Act,” so Burzer. “The framework conditions worldwide are always changing, and we have to react to that if necessary.”

Mercedes announced in July 2021 that it would only introduce new electric platforms from 2025 – combustion models and hybrids will continue to be built on the current platforms. But, there will only be new purely electric developments.

The MB.EA covers all medium-sized and large passenger cars above the MMA and “will be the electric basis of the future BEV portfolio as a scalable modular system.” For the performance models, the AMG.EA will “address the needs of Mercedes-AMG’s technology-savvy and performance-oriented customers.” Electric vans and light commercial vehicles will be based on the VAN.EA. All other new platforms are subsequently also to be purely electric.

The MMA was once announced as the last mixed platform that would be developed focusing on electric vehicles but could also accommodate internal combustion engines.

automobilwoche.de (in German; paywall)