Mercedes-Benz has announced the start of battery pack production for plug-in electric cars in Bangkok in Thailand, which was promised in 2018.
Through an investment of more than €100 million ($111 million), the German manufacturer, together with local partners Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant (TAAP) and Thonburi Energy Storage Systems (TESM), expanded the plant and added a battery pack facility.
The PHEV packs will be used among others for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, GLC and GLC Coupé, which are locally assembled. According to the press release, especially the C- and E-Class, are in particular demand in Thailand.
A similar move was done recently by BMW, which makes us wonder whether there are some special incentives to launch battery pack production or it is just the same strategy.
"The Mercedes-Benz plant in Bangkok in Thailand has started local production for Mercedes-Benz plug-in hybrid-batteries. The new battery factory was built on a 50,000 m² site located at the vehicle manufacturing plant in the Bangkok region. In addition, the existing automotive plant has been expanded. Mercedes-Benz AG has invested more than 100 million euros together with local partners Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant (TAAP) and Thonburi Energy Storage Systems (TESM) for the plant extension and the battery factory. In total, more than 300 new jobs are created, 100 of these jobs are created in the battery production. The production facilities are highly standardised and flexible. As a result, they can be adapted to local market conditions in a short time. With the joint investment in the new factory building as well as the factory extension, Mercedes-Benz AG and the local partner TAAP are once again strengthening their cooperation."
Gallery: Mercedes-Benz Cars starts local battery production in Bangkok
Daimler has decided to build an entire network of localized battery module/pack plants. Through an investment of more than €1 billion ($1.1 billion), the company will put on-line 9 battery pack plants at 7 sites on three continents:
- two plants (Deutsche Accumotive) in Kamenz, Germany - first, since 2012, second has started production in 2019
- plant in Bangkok, Thailand - Together with the local partner Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plan (TAAP) launched in 2019
- plant in Beijing, China - a joint project with Daimler's joint-venture partner BAIC at the existing location in Yizhuang Industrial Park
- plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama - Near the existing Mercedes-Benz SUV plant in Tuscaloosa (USA) construction works of a battery factory have begun in 2018
- two plants planned in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim, Germany
- plant planned in Sindelfingen, Germany
- plant in Jawor, Poland
"The first factory in Kamenz is in series operation. The second factory in Kamenz (Germany), the battery factory at the Beijing site (China) and in Bangkok (Thailand) started series production in 2019. The battery factories in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim (Germany), Tuscaloosa (USA) and Jawor (Poland) will start at the beginning of the next decade.
The local production of batteries is an important success factor in Mercedes-Benz Cars electric offensive and the crucial building block for handling the global demand for electric vehicles flexibly and efficiently. The battery is the heart of all electrified drives. The complex battery systems from Mercedes-Benz are assembled and tested in the international battery factories. Mercedes-Benz buys the battery cells flexibly on the world market and secures access to the latest technologies on the market."
Mercedes-Benz Cars starts local battery production in Bangkok
Bangkok. The global battery production network within the Mercedes-Benz Cars production network has put the third production facility into operation: A factory for plug-in hybrid batteries has been opened in the Bangkok region in Thailand. Together with the local partners Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant (TAAP) and Thonburi Energy Storage Systems (TESM), Mercedes-Benz AG has invested a total of more than 100 million euros in the battery production and a plant expansion of the existing vehicle production plant. In doing so, the partners are responding to the high demand for electric mobility and, in particular, for plug-in hybrid vehicles in Thailand. At the same time, they are driving the shift towards sustainable mobility as well as a carbon neutral and resource-efficient production.
The Mercedes-Benz plant in Bangkok in Thailand has started local production for Mercedes-Benz plug-in hybrid-batteries. The new battery factory was built on a 50,000 m² site located at the vehicle manufacturing plant in the Bangkok region. In addition, the existing automotive plant has been expanded. Mercedes-Benz AG has invested more than 100 million euros together with local partners Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant (TAAP) and Thonburi Energy Storage Systems (TESM) for the plant extension and the battery factory. In total, more than 300 new jobs are created, 100 of these jobs are created in the battery production. The production facilities are highly standardised and flexible. As a result, they can be adapted to local market conditions in a short time. With the joint investment in the new factory building as well as the factory extension, Mercedes-Benz AG and the local partner TAAP are once again strengthening their cooperation.
"We have been successfully producing Mercedes-Benz vehicles for the local market at our Thai plant for more than 40 years. With the start of production of our battery factory in Bangkok, we are taking another important step in the expansion of our global battery production network at Mercedes-Benz Cars with nine factories worldwide. The local production of batteries enables us to make the best possible use of the potential for e-mobility in Thailand. As in the case of vehicle manufacturing, we have optimized all processes in terms of efficiency, flexibility and sustainability in the battery factory. We show, how sustainable products can be produced sustainably", said Jörg Burzer, member of the board of Management of Mercedes-Benz AG, Production and Supply Chain Management.
The plug-in hybrid models of Mercedes-Benz Sedans, especially the C- and E-Class, are in particular demand in Thailand. "Our location is well prepared for the future of mobility and can react even more flexibly to developments in the Southeast Asian market. Above all this strategic course-setting was made possible by the long-standing, trusting cooperation with our local partners. This has laid the foundation for further expanding our commitment and adding additional electrified vehicles to our portfolio", said Roland Folger, President and CEO Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) Limited.
Digital and sustainable battery production
The battery systems manufactured in the new battery factory, are used among others for the current Mercedes-Benz C-Class, E-Class, S-Class as well as for the Mercedes-Benz GLC and GLC Coupé. The high variety of product variants of the local market require very flexible and efficient production and facility concepts. Central assembly stations were set up in the same way as in the battery factory in Kamenz and were further developed for site-specific requirements. In this way, all battery types can be manufactured in the new line for all current and future plug-in hybrids.
The battery factory in Bangkok meets the high Mercedes-Benz standards in terms of ergonomics, industrial safety and digitalization. For example, a new benchmark has been implemented for process assurance: The excellent product quality is generated by a quality assurance system that monitors all production processes online along the value creation. In addition the plant has its own assessment and testing centre.
In order to prepare employees in the best possible way for their new, demanding tasks, they were intensively trained. Mercedes-Benz Cars benefits from the experience gained from its international production network. "The expertise in our global network is an advantage that we can use here in Thailand. We are dealing with highly complex future-oriented technologies in battery production. It makes me very proud to see the enthusiasm and dedication with which our employees approach their new tasks. Without this strong team, the project would not have been feasible in this short time and according to the high Mercedes-Benz standards," says Andreas Lettner, Chief Executive Officer & Head of Operations Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Thailand.
The decision for a local battery production in Thailand supports Mercedes-Benz's overall sustainability goals under the heading "Ambition2039" as well. The aim is a carbon neutral new car fleet until 2039. By 2030, at least every second vehicle sold should have an electric drive – this includes full-electric vehicles and Plug-In hybrids. On the way to sustainable mobility, apart from products production plays a central role: All European Mercedes-Benz plants are to produce completely carbon neutral from 2022. The battery factory in Bangkok will meet this requirement by using large solar systems on the roofs of the production buildings. Excess solar power, for example, is temporarily stored in so-called 2nd-life battery storage systems from recycled electric vehicle batteries. The plant works closely with the Mercedes-Benz Energy GmbH. The stationary storage systems, which can compensate for local energy fluctuations and contribute significantly to grid stabilization, enable economical and resource-saving reuse for disused batteries of electric and hybrid vehicles. This is an important contribution to the economic efficiency and environmental balance of electric vehicles.
About the battery production network
Daimler is investing more than one billion euros in a global battery production network within the global production network of Mercedes-Benz Cars. In total, the battery production network consists of nine factories at seven locations on three continents. The first factory in Kamenz is in series operation. The second factory in Kamenz (Germany), the battery factory at the Beijing site (China) and in Bangkok (Thailand) started series production in 2019. The battery factories in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim (Germany), Tuscaloosa (USA) and Jawor (Poland) will start at the beginning of the next decade.
The local production of batteries is an important success factor in Mercedes-Benz Cars electric offensive and the crucial building block for handling the global demand for electric vehicles flexibly and efficiently. The battery is the heart of all electrified drives. The complex battery systems from Mercedes-Benz are assembled and tested in the international battery factories. Mercedes-Benz buys the battery cells flexibly on the world market and secures access to the latest technologies on the market.
Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Thailand
The Mercedes-Benz Thailand plant is located in the Bangkok region, where local production with the W123 model began more than 40 years ago. The site is part of the worldwide production network of Mercedes-Benz Cars. In Thailand, the local partner TAAP currently operates the plant with assembly, body and paint shop. The production portfolio currently comprises ten models: GLA, C-Class Sedan, C-Class Coupé, E-Class Sedan, CLS, S-Class Sedan, GLC, GLC Coupé, GLE and A-Class Sedan. In 2018 alone, TAAP produced more than 15,000 cars for Mercedes-Benz. The plant currently employs more than 1,000 people.