Of the carmaker Mercedes Benz builds its own production of electric car-Battery cells shared with the chinese Battery company CATL out. In Hungary, a new production facility for battery cells from the Chinese supplier is being built in Debrecen, Mercedes announced in Stuttgart on Friday. Mercedes-Benz secured the right to be the first customer to be supplied. A company spokesman did not want to comment on what this cost the Stuttgart carmaker. CATL announced that it would invest EUR 7.3 billion in Hungary.
Battery cells with a total capacity of 100 gigawatt hours are to be produced annually in the Hungarian plant. This would make the factory one of the largest battery factories in Europe. Subject to the approvals, the start of construction is planned for this year, CATL announced. The plant should then start operating within 64 months. Mercedes wants to get closer to its goal of obtaining a battery capacity of 200 gigawatt hours per year by 2030 to equip its electric cars. In total, the group wants to build eight factories worldwide together with partners.
CATL announced that it would use electricity from renewable sources for the planned plant. The company is considering building solar power plants with local partners in Hungary. In addition, it is being checked whether the material for the battery cells can also be produced with partners in Europe. “The greenfield project in Hungary is an important step in CATL’s global expansion,” said CATL founder Robin Zeng (54).
Largest single investment in Hungary
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto (43) said his country’s goal was not to slide into recession. “The best way to achieve this goal is to attract investment in the most revolutionary area in the auto industry, in electric mobility.” It is the largest single investment in the country’s history. Hungary has recently become a leading manufacturer of battery cells and is expanding its position with this investment.
CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology) is the world’s largest manufacturer of battery cells for electric cars. The company supplies, among others, the US electric car top dog Tesla, but also the German BMW group and entered into a partnership with Mercedes in August 2020.
Just over a year ago, Mercedes announced that it would be entering battery cell production itself, as would Volkswagen. By the end of the decade, the Swabians want to have eight plants worldwide with the capacity of 200 gigawatt hours of battery storage to equip their electric cars. Mercedes has already participated in the battery cell alliance ACC of the car group Stellantis with the French energy group Totalenergies.