Mercedes-Benz to offer 130 electrified models by 2022
With the purchase of battery cells for more than €20 billion ($24.8 billion), Daimler is pushing forward its transformation into the electric future.
The German automaker plans to introduce a total of 130 electrified variants of Mercedes-Benz Cars by 2022 in addition to its electric vans, buses and trucks.
The company is investing €10 billion ($11.4 billion) in the expansion of the Mercedes-Benz Cars electric fleet and another €1 billion ($1.14 billion) in the global battery production network within the worldwide production network.
“With extensive orders for battery cells until the year 2030, we set another important milestone for the electrification of our future electric vehicles of the EQ product and technology brand. In this way, together with our partners, we ensure the supply of our global battery production network today and in the future using the latest technologies,” says Wilko Stark, Member of the Divisional Board Mercedes-Benz Cars, Procurement and Supplier Quality since October 2018.
Daimler purchases the cells on the world market. This ensures the best possible technology and focuses on the core competence of battery assembly. The global battery production network of Mercedes-Benz Cars will in the future consist of eight factories on three continents. The first factory in Kamenz is already in series production and the second factory there will start series production at the beginning of 2019.
Two more factories will be built in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim, one at the company's Sindelfingen site, and one each at the sites in Beijing (China), Bangkok (Thailand) and Tuscaloosa (USA). The local production of batteries is an important success factor in Mercedes-Benz Cars' electric offensive and is decisive for meeting the global demand for electric vehicles flexibly and efficiently.
Competences for the technological evaluation of cells as well as research and development activities will be consistently expanded. These include the continuous optimisation of the current generation of Li-ion systems, the further development of cells bought on the world market and research of the next generation of so-called post-lithium-ion systems.
By 2022, the entire Mercedes portfolio is to be electrified, with various electrified alternatives available in every segment, from the smart to the SUVs. In total, there will be well over 130 variants, from the 48-volt electrical system to EQ Boost and plug-in hybrids and more than ten all-electric vehicles powered by batteries or fuel cells. By 2025, sales of battery-electric vehicles are to increase to 15-25% of total unit sales, depending on individual customer preferences and the development of the public infrastructure.
Daimler had its first all-electric truck, the Fuso eCanter light-duty truck, in series production on the market and in customers' hands since last year. The all-electric eActros for heavy-duty distribution transport has also been proving its worth on Germany's roads since June 2018. In September, Mercedes-Benz Trucks handed over the first of a total of ten eActros trucks to a customer for use in everyday operations.
Series production in the bus segment began in autumn this year and the first Mercedes-Benz eCitaro was recently delivered to Hamburger Hochbahn AG. Mercedes-Benz Vans electrifies its entire commercial fleet. It starts with the all-electric mid-size van eVito, which has been delivered since November 2018. The eSprinter will follow in the second half of 2019.
CASE - these letters are shaping the future of mobility. They stand for the fields of networking (Connected), autonomous driving (Autonomous), flexible use (Shared & Services) and electric drive systems (Electric). The four CASE fields are an integral part of the corporate strategy of Daimler AG.
Mercedes-Benz to offer 130 electrified models by 2022
Modified on Thursday 13th December 2018
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Mercedes-Benz to offer 130 electrified models by 2022