Daimler spends billions on battery cells

Daimler is investing 10 billion euros in the expansion of the Mercedes-Benz Cars electric fleet and another billion euros in its global battery production network.

“Our electric offensive continues to gain momentum,” Daimler AG management board chairman and Mercedes-Benz Cars head Dr Dieter Zetsche says.

“After investing billions of euros in the development of the electric fleet and the expansion of our global battery network, we are now taking the next step. With the purchase of battery cells for more than 20 billion euros, we are consistently pushing forward with the transformation into the electric future of our company. We plan a total of 130 electrified variants at Mercedes-Benz Cars by 2022. In addition, we will have electric vans, buses and trucks.”

The battery cells orders until 2030 ensure supply.

The company already plays a leading role in all four areas of connectivity, autonomous, shared services and electric.

Daimler has been gaining experience with electric trucks since 2010 and has had its first all-electric truck the Fuso eCanter light-duty truck in series production on the market and in customers’ hands since last year.

The all-electric eActros for heavy-duty distribution transport has also been proving its worth on Germany’s roads since June 2018.

In September, Mercedes-Benz Trucks handed over the first of a total of 10 eActros trucks of the innovation fleet to a customer for use in everyday operations.

Series production in the bus segment began this year and the first Mercedes-Benz eCitaro was recently delivered to Hamburg’s public transport operator, Hamburger Hochbahn AG.

Mercedes-Benz Vans has electrified its entire commercial fleet. It starts with the all-electric mid-size van eVito, which has been delivered since November 2018.

The eSprinter will follow in the second half of 2019. Hermes Germany will receive 1500 Mercedes-Benz electric transporters and the corresponding efficient charging infrastructure. Amazon Logistics takes over 100 eVito vans in Bochum and Dusseldorf.