Daimler Breaks Ground for Second EV Battery Factory in Germany

Daimler AG began construction today of a €500 million ($543 million) factory near Dresden to make lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.

Located close to a similar plant in Kamenz, the facility is scheduled to begin production in mid-2018. Both factories are to be operated by Deutsche Accumotive GmbH, the subsidiary Daimler launched 8 years ago to develop and produce hybrid and all-electric powertrains.

Daimler didn’t reveal the capacity of the new battery factory. But it says the facility will quadruple the footprint of Accumotive’s battery-making operations in Kamenz to 80,000 sq meters (861,100 sq ft). The company also says the complex will double the current workforce by the end of the decade.

The first Kamenz battery plant has to date delivered more than 80,000 lithium-ion batteries for mobile and stationary use, according to Daimler.

The carmaker reiterates that it intends to spend some €10 billion by 2022 to add more than 10 all-electric models covering all market segments. The first of the models, which will be grouped under the company’s EQ brand, are due at the end of the decade.