Mercedes-Benz opens a new battery plant in Bibb County, Alabama, just months before the start of production of all-electric Mercedes-EQ vehicles in the United States.
The luxury car brand is preparing to become fully electric, increasing production of electric cars on three continents. The new US battery plant underscores the importance of the United States to the brand’s global manufacturing network and Alabama as an export hub for luxury SUVs in the electric age.
Mercedes-Benz will produce the EQS SUVs and EQE SUVs at its Alabama plant as part of a global push to produce pure electric vehicles in seven locations on three continents. The state-of-the-art battery factory in Bibb County will supply batteries for the new SUV EQS and SUV EQE.
“The inauguration of our new battery plant in Alabama is an important milestone on our path to electricity. Our integrated approach, which includes a local cell supply and recycling strategy, underscores the importance of the United States, where Mercedes-Benz has been successful for decades. “We are proud to be creating new jobs to build purely electric Made in the USA SUVs in a factory that has been an established part of our productive family for 25 years,” said the Chairman of the Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, All ΚαλÎνιους.
The Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, has been producing large SUVs bearing the three-pointed star since 1997. The plant is now electric with the EQS SUV. The brand provides a first look at the spacious, progressive and highly digitized interior of the SUV EQS, ahead of the official world premiere of the vehicle on April 19.
Since the 1990s, the luxury brand has invested a total of more than $ 7 billion in Alabama. Of that amount, $ 1 billion was invested in the battery plant, logistics centers and upgrading of the electric vehicle production line. Today, it employs about 4,500 people and provides about 11,000 additional jobs with suppliers and service providers in the area. About four million vehicles have been produced by the Tuscaloosa plant since 1997, with about 260,000 SUVs leaving the production line in 2021 alone. About two-thirds of annual production is exported, making MBUSI one of the largest US car exporters .
The flexible production system allows the assembly of different models and transmission systems in a single production line, allowing the factory to adapt to changes in customer demand. In addition to the GLE, GLE Coupe, GLS and Mercedes-Maybach GLS, two electric models will be added to the production line, equipped with batteries from the nearby Bibb County factory.
The production of high performance lithium ion batteries for EQS SUVs and EQE SUVs is CO2 neutral. High performance lithium ion batteries, in a large production line, with more than 70 workstations. Using a fully digitized production process, various components are combined, including up to twelve hive units. Up to 600 new jobs will be created in Bibb County.
The battery system, which will be installed in the EQS SUV, with the possibility of up to 7 seats, uses a modular design that has already been applied in EQS and EQE and uses highly advanced cell chemistry containing nickel, cobalt and manganese in a ratio of 8: 1: 1. Reducing the cobalt content to about 10%, in addition to CO2-neutral battery production, enhances sustainability.
Celebrating its world premiere on April 19, the new EQS SUV will be the first all-electric luxury SUV and the third model based on Mercedes-Benz’s exclusive electric vehicle architecture. With a luxurious interior, it is going to redefine an entire section. The interior combines the progressive design, the finesse and the comfort that the customers love for the EQS sedan with the space and the flexibility of the popular concept of large SUVs. The look and feel is a luxurious fusion of digital luxury and innovative new trim, while the electric vehicle architecture offers generous SUV interior dimensions. Combined with the optional third-row seats and second-row electrically adjustable seats, it offers a particularly high level of flexibility, according to a statement.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News
and be the first to know all the news
I have worked in the news industry for over 10 years. I have a vast amount of experience in covering health news. I am also an author at News Bulletin 247. I am highly experienced and knowledgeable in this field. I am a hard worker and always deliver quality work. I am a reliable source of information and always provide accurate information.
