Mercedes-Benz Shifts Gears: Investing Heavily in Germany's Green Revolution
Mercedes-Benz Prioritizes Major Investments in Germany
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy link Get the lowdown on Mercedes-Benz's renewed focus on Germany for electromobility straight from the horse's mouth.
Ola Källenius, the honcho at Mercedes-Benz, spilled the beans to the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung." Guess where the lion's share of their investments are heading this year? That's right – Deutschland!
"We're putting our money where our mouth is and going all-in on Germany," Källenius proclaimed. Mercedes plans to act like a powerhouse, propelling Germany's economy forward. Worldwide, they're allocating a whopping 14 billion euros this year – a significant chunk of that aimed at the Old World, and a significant chunk again, specifically at Deutschland.
Källenius is clear about the car manufacturer's intentions: they aim to make a massive leap forward in electromobility. "We want to show some serious muscle and sell a ton of electric cars." He's holding 2026 as the target date for introducing an electric version of the Mercedes SUV GLC, and the new entry-level model CLA.
Mercedes' strategy doesn't stop at electromobility; they're taking care of their business in the ongoing trade dispute with the USA. Källenius had a word of caution about escalating the situation: "It's not exactly rocket science to realize that building barriers is self-defeating because we stand to lose more than our trading partners."
The strength, in Källenius's opinion, lies in Europe and, more specifically, Germany's export prowess, which makes it unwise to pursue a protectionist policy.
Source: ntv.de, afp
Now, let's dig a bit deeper into what Mercedes-Benz has up their corporate sleeves.
Goin' Green: The Green Energy Push
Mercedes-Benz is putting a major emphasis on green energy: they've landed a deal for a massive 140MW of renewable electricity supply, starting in 2027, covering about 30% of their German power needs. This is just one move in their broader mission towards sustainability.
Electric Vehicle (EV) Production Boom
Mercedes-Benz is beefing up their EV production capabilities in Germany. They've invested heavily in digital and sustainable manufacturing processes – for example, at the Rastatt plant, which is churning out new models like the CLA with electric variants – and integrating components from other German sites, including Stuttgart-Untertürkheim for drive units.
Battery Revolution
Battery technology is another area where Mercedes-Benz is making waves. They're boosting battery production, with the Kamenz plant being a key location. Additionally, they've opened Europe's first battery recycling factory in Kuppenheim, employing mechanical-hydrometallurgical technology.
The Electric Bus Chapter
Daimler Buses, part of the Mercedes-Benz family, is deeply involved in electric bus production, with models like the eCitaro seeing significant orders and deployments across Germany and other European cities.
In essence, Mercedes-Benz's blueprint for electromobility in Germany from 2021 and beyond revolves around renewable energy, expanded EV production, advanced battery technology, and a forward-thinking business strategy to elevate sustainability and luxury offerings.
The community policy of Mercedes-Benz includes investments in vocational training, specifically in digital and sustainable manufacturing processes for electric vehicle (EV) production, which is a part of their broader commitment to sustainability and the green revolution in Germany.
As part of their focus on Germany's green revolution, Mercedes-Benz is not only investing in the production of electric vehicles but also in the finance and technology aspects, such as battery production and recycling, aiming to revolutionize battery technology and establish Europe's first battery recycling factory.
