Mercedes-Benz has opened a new development center for batteries in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim. This center is seen as a significant step in the research and development of battery cells for electric cars and should lead to a massive reduction in production costs.
Brief summary:
- Mercedes-Benz opens development center for battery cells in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim.
- The aim is to reduce costs by more than 30% in the coming years.
- The center includes a test and trial center for batteries.
- Location strengthens the traditional plant and Group headquarters in Untertürkheim.
New development center for battery cells
The newly opened “Industrial Cell Lab” in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim covers the entire product and process chain of cell development and production. The center covers more than 30,000 square meters and aims to build up expertise for an economical battery manufacturing process. Mercedes-Benz has invested a three-digit million sum in this location to promote battery cell production and research. One of the main aims of the new campus is to reduce the cost of battery cells by more than 30 percent in the coming years.
Research priorities and technological innovations
Research will focus on battery cells with various material combinations, including nickel, manganese, cobalt (NMC) and lithium iron phosphate. Anodes with a higher silicon content and solid electrolyte batteries are also important development goals. This variety of research fields demonstrates Mercedes-Benz’s ambition to develop innovative and powerful battery solutions for future electric vehicles.
The center also includes a test and trial center, which is to be completed by the end of the year. The safety and service life of the batteries developed will be examined at this center. The findings will not only be used to drive research forward, but will also be incorporated into series production at partner companies.
Significance for the Stuttgart location
Mercedes-Benz sees the new development center as a commitment to its headquarters in Untertürkheim. Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz, emphasized the importance of the traditional plant, which has been in existence for 120 years and currently employs more than 23,000 people. The opening of the new center and the planned production of the company’s own electric motors this year are intended to secure the future of the site.
The plant in Untertürkheim will continue to play a central role in the development and production of drive components such as engines, batteries and axles. This strategic decision demonstrates the flexibility of Mercedes-Benz to produce both combustion engines and battery-electric drives in order to meet customer requirements and market conditions.
Outlook and strategic goals
Mercedes-Benz has adjusted its strategic direction in recent years. The original plan to develop platforms exclusively for electric cars from 2028 has been scrapped. Instead, it is expected that both battery electric drives and combustion engines will be produced in the 2030s. However, the ultimate goal remains clear: a carbon-neutral new car fleet by 2039.
Mercedes-Benz plans to achieve up to 50 percent of global sales with battery-electric cars and plug-in hybrids by the second half of this decade. This adaptation of the strategy demonstrates the company’s determination to play a leading role in the industry despite the challenges on the road to electromobility.
