The Mercedes-Benz Drive System Campus in Unterturkheim is becoming a technology competence center. The campus will focus on electric drive and battery technology, also producing lithium-ion cells.
The move is part of the Ambition 2039 strategy that targets the carbon neutrality, revealed in October 2020. The management and work council of the Mercedes-Benz Unterturkheim agreed on investing a three-digit million euro amount in order to transform the facility. It will thus become the largest site in the company’s global powertrain production network. Its future name is Mercedes-Benz Drive Systems Campus.
Research, development and production ramp-ups of drive systems will be the main activities of the center.
“Mercedes-Benz stringently moves forward on the path to CO2-neutrality. Taking a leading role in electric vehicles means further boosting our own research and development and achieving maximum progress with global tech partners. The transformational phase toward CO2-neutrality also means far-reaching changes in particular to our drive system division”, states Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG.
The production program and processes will undergo substantial adjustments. The restructure and expansion of the competence centers are part of the plan.
Mercedes-Benz Drive Systems Campus – A move towards e-mobility
The move is also a step forward towards electro-mobility. An e-technology center and a cell technology center are already in operation in Unterturkheim. They will receive further investments for basic research, pre-development and design of the battery cells. The premium car maker is also planning a new lithium-ion battery cell factory. It should start operation sometime in 2023. A battery safety lab and a recycling system are also on the menu.
Highly efficient electric drive system is a target that Mercedes-Benz will try to reach with the help of the Drive Systems Campus. This involves a smart mix of electric motor, battery system, power electronics and software. The premium car maker will develop the next generation o electric motors in house and will equip them with inverter and high voltage technology.
The move involves adjustments of personnel in the future Mercedes-Benz Drive Systems Campus. The company’s top priority is to implement the changes in a socially acceptable manner with regard to the jobs affected.
