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Daimler to Make EVs in Existing Car Plants
Daimler AG says it will begin making electric cars in the same factories that produce its conventionally powered Mercedes-Benz cars, crossover vehicles and Smart minicars.
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Daimler AG says it will begin making electric cars in the same factories that produce its conventionally powered Mercedes-Benz cars, crossover vehicles and Smart minicars.
Markus Schaefer, who heads Mercedes-Benz production and supply chain management, says the EVs will be integrated into existing Mercedes factories on four continents. The company so far has named four factories “competence centers” for EV production: the Smart plant in Hambach, France; and German factories in Bremen, Rastatt and Sindelfingen.
Daimler is developing a single EV platform that will be able to carry 10 different models to be marketed under the “EQ” sub-brand. A production version of the first model, which will be based on the EQ concept car (shown left), is expected in 2018.
The company announced previously that it will spend at least €10 billion ($10.8 billion) to develop and introduce more than 10 EVs under the Smart and Mercedes brands by 2025. Daimler predicts that 15%-25% of its sales by then will be zero-emission vehicles.
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