Daimler has announced that it will begin building “ultra-high-performance” axial-flux electric motors at its Berlin site starting next year.
The site, known as the Mercedes-Benz Digital Factory Campus, will start producing the motors in order to facilitate the brand’s switch to an all-electric portfolio by 2030.
By bringing more motor development in-house, Mercedes is hoping to improve its vertical manufacturing integration and value creation in development and production.
“The transformation of the automotive industry is more evident at our Berlin site than at any other Mercedes-Benz plant,” says Jörg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz AG, Production and Supply Chain.
“The transformation from a production site for purely conventional drive components to a competence centre for digitalisation and production in the field of e-mobility is a significant step for us and our employees. We are offering groundbreaking new opportunities for this traditional location and underlining its role in our global production network – not least as a decisive driver of our digitalisation offensive. With the production of high-performance electric motors, the Berlin plant will become a key pillar of the sustainable Mercedes-Benz electrification strategy.”
Berlin will also become the hub for global Mercedes training and qualification activities. This will include training programmes for the entire production network as well as specialist IT digital networking and data process analysis roles.
Mercedes won’t be developing new technology on its own, however. The company also intends to use the Mercedes-Benz Digital Factory Campus to collaborate with the likes of Siemens, as well as academics.
“Securing the sustainable future of our Mercedes-Benz site in Berlin has always been at the forefront of our minds. With the transformation of the site into a digital factory campus and competence centre for high-performance electric motors, we have taken a decisive step towards the future for our oldest production site,” says Michael Rahmel, Chairman of the Works Council Mercedes-Benz Plant Berlin.
