Meet Mercedes Digital - Battery production in Kamenz

Local battery production is an important success factor for Mercedes-Benz AG’s electric offensive and the key element to flexibly and efficiently meet the global demand for electrified vehicles. The company is therefore focusing on establishing a global battery production network and is investing more than one billion EUR to this end. The network will consist of nine battery factories at seven locations in Europe, North America and Asia. Mercedes-Benz’s wholly owned subsidiary Accumotive in Kamenz, Saxony will play a special role in this. As the competence centre for the global battery production network, it has been producing drivetrain batteries for electric and electrified vehicles from Mercedes-Benz and smart as well as light commercial vehicles since 2012. After the second plant – designed from the outset to be CO2-neutral – went into operation in 2018, the Mercedes-Benz subsidiary successively increased its production capacities and volumes. The annual production volume will soon exceed half a million battery systems for hybrid, plug-in hybrid and purely electric vehicles. The plant is also preparing for the next milestone of the product and technology brand EQ, which will also offer electric variants in the compact segment.

Mercedes-Benz’s electric offensive is in full swing. The company already offers various electrified models in each segment – from the 48-volt electric system (EQ Boost) and plug-in hybrids (EQ Power) to fully electrically powered vehicles (EQ). The focus is clearly on gradually increasing the percentage of purely electrically powered vehicles in the Mercedes-Benz Cars portfolio. By the end of this year, Mercedes-Benz will offer five purely electric models as well as 20 plug-in hybrids. In a few years, more than ten fully electric EQ models will be in series production. Mercedes-Benz Cars’ new-car fleet is to become CO2-neutral in less than 20 years. By 2030, the company wants plug-in hybrids or purely electric vehicles to account for more than 50% of its passenger-car sales.