As part of the OEM’s ongoing investment in electrification, Mercedes-Benz Cars will build a battery factory in Jawor, Poland, extending the car maker’s global battery production network to nine factories.
“We will electrify the complete portfolio until 2022 and will be able to offer in each segment various electrified alternatives to our customers,” said Markus Schäfer, member of the divisional board of management of Mercedes-Benz Cars, production and supply chain.
“This includes more than 10 pure-electric vehicles. We will produce batteries on our own, what we consider a significant success factor in the era of electric mobility. After the production of high-tech engines, we will establish additional future technology in Poland. The battery factory in Jawor is the second largest investment at this new Mercedes-Benz site.”
In Jawor, approximately 100km away from the German border, a state-of-the-art engine factory is currently being built. The plant will produce four-cylinder engines for hybrid and conventionally driven vehicles. This will be the first production site of Mercedes-Benz Cars in Poland and will offer more than 1.000 jobs.
“The decision of Mercedes-Benz Cars to start the production of electric batteries for a new type of vehicles in Jawor shows that companies that have started operations in our country positively assess the investment climate and want to continue to grow here,” said Mateusz Morawiecki, Prime Minister of Poland.
“We are witnessing the 4.0 industrial revolution in which Poland plays a leading role. We are glad that Jawor will produce not only traditional engines, but also the hearts of cars of the future, namely electric batteries.”
Engine production in Jawor will start in 2019 and will supply Mercedes-Benz car plants around the world. With the construction of a battery factory on the existing ground at the site, approximately 300 new jobs will be created. The battery assembly will be equipped with cutting-edge technologies. Series production of batteries for vehicles in the EQ brand is slated for the beginning of the next decade.
“The engine plant and the new battery factory in Jawor are important parts of our global powertrain production network. With nine factories in our global battery production network we are very well positioned. It became apparent that building an engine factory in Jawor has been a good decision. This success story will be continued with the battery factory. We are looking forward to strengthening the collaboration with the region and the Polish colleagues,” said Frank Deiß, head of production powertrain, Mercedes-Benz Cars.
