Mercedes crankin' up the juice in Germany: Ola Källenius and the electric revolution
Mercedes-Benz Prioritizes Significant Investments in Germany
Time to plug into electromobility, says Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius. In an exclusive reveal to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, Källenius announced that the German region will be the driving force behind a significant portion of the car manufacturer's investments this year. "We're going balls-to-the-wall on Germany," Källenius told the festschrift on Thursday. The aim? To make Germany a mega-engine for the automotive powerhouse, generating job opportunities and bolstering the local economy.
Wanting to steal the spotlight in electromobility, Källenius expressed his ambition for Mercedes to expand aggressively. "We aim to grow strong and sell a helluva lot more electric cars than today," he added. By 2026, Mercedes plans to roll out electrified versions of the SUV GLC and the entry-level model CLA.
On the subject of the ongoing trade dispute with the USA, Källenius issued a word of caution. "The strength of Europe and Germany lies in exports. So slapping on trade barriers ain't gonna help no one, because we've got more to lose than the other side," he told the FAS.
According to sources, Mercedes-Benz is pumping in a whopping €14 billion this year, with a substantial chunk going towards Europe, and an even bigger portion directed towards good ol' Germany. The company is going all-out on electromobility in its mission to decarbonize transportation. But the details on how and where the money will be spent remain hush-hush.
Though the search results didn't spill the beans on specifics, they did hint at some of Mercedes-Benz's broader initiatives in electromobility:
- Electrifying the Fleet: Mercedes-Benz is beefing up its all-electric and hybrid vehicle lineup, in line with its Climate Transition Action Plan 2025[1].
- Making in Germany: The business is investing in local production of electric vehicles, with the new electric CLA set to roll out at the Rastatt plant, incorporating electric drive units from Stuttgart-Untertürkheim and batteries from Kamenz[4].
- Digitalizing and Greening Up: Mercedes-Benz is embracing digital and sustainable manufacturing processes, harnessing AI, digital twins, and the Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS) to optimize production[4].
- E-Mobility for All: Mercedes-Benz Daimler Buses is pushing the boundaries of electric bus technology, offering comprehensive solutions with the eCitaro model sporting next-generation batteries[2].
Stay tuned for more electric moves from Mercedes-Benz. As always, get your updates here first!
Sources: ntv.de, afp
[1] Mercedes-Benz Climate Transition Action Plan 2025: https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/sustainability/climate-transition/ctap/[2] Daimler Buses on a mission: https://www.daimler.com/global/en/company/news-and-media/news/2022/april/daimler-buses-on-mission-to-shape-the-future-of-bus-travel-with-the-company-strategy.html[3] The intricate dance of AI and manufacturing at Mercedes-BenzFactories: https://www.globalsimquote.com/ai-in-manufacturing/article/the-intricate-dance-of-ai-and-manufacturing-at-mercedes-benz-factories[4] Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS): https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/mbus/mb-os/
- Mercedes-Benz is planning to make Germany a major center for its electric vehicle production, in line with the company's Community policy, as part of its mission to electrify its fleet.
- In addition to electrifying its vehicles, Mercedes-Benz is also investing in digital and sustainable manufacturing processes, including AI, digital twins, and the Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS), to enhance its vocational training in the automotive industry.
- To finance these initiatives, Mercedes-Benz is set to invest a significant amount in Germany, with a portion of the finance going towards producing electric vehicles locally, and other funds directed towards digitalizing and greening up its manufacturing processes.
