Mercedes-Benz resumes production, continues electrics initiative

A gradual production restart with an extensive anti-infection package has been announced by Mercedes-Benz following suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With this production ramp-up, Mercedes-Benz is continuing its product and electric initiative while servicing China as its largest sales market where the company is seeing a significant increase in demand again.

Its battery plants in Kamenz, where batteries for the electric EQ family, drive batteries for plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) and 48V batteries are produced, continued to operate during the suspension of production and short-time work phases as important strategic aspects of the electric initiative, Mercedes-Benz says. These run on a two-shift basis with strictly segregated shifts and extensive safety measures for the employees, it adds.

Production has restarted at Untertürkheim, Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen and Sindelfingen – the latter where electrified models of the E-Class and S-Class, and hybrid and plug-in variants are produced.

On May 4 the Mercedes-Benz car plant in Rastatt will also gradually restart, with plants in Kölleda and Arnstadt (MDC Power and MDC Technology), as well as selected international Mercedes-Benz car plants, will likewise restart production on a step-by-step basis.

These include plants in Sebes/Cugir (Romania), Kecskemét (Hungary) and Tuscaloosa (USA).

The restart will be on a flexible basis so that ongoing developments can be taken into account, Mercedes-Benz says.

Daimler suspended most of its production as well as work in selected administrative areas in Europe for an initial period of two weeks (March 23 to April 5).

This was followed by short-time work in Germany starting April 6. Short-time work will continue in some areas, such as the group’s car, van and commercial vehicle plants in Germany.

Necessary basic functions as well as future plans and strategic projects are excluded from short-time work to enable a quick return to work after the crisis.

“We are producing in compliance with extensive safety measures and we are increasing our production step by step,” Mercedes-Benz AG, production and supply chain management board member Jörg Burzer says.

Sindelfingen site manager and production head Michael Bauer says: “As of this week we have been gradually and flexibly restarting assembly of our E-Class and S-Class, so that we can respond promptly to ongoing developments. We will gradually increase our production volumes in the next days and weeks, so that we are able to get to full speed as rapidly as possible.”