MAN Truck & Bus celebrated the topping-out ceremony for its large-scale battery production facility in Nuremberg, Germany, marking a significant step in its transition to electromobility. The facility will begin mass production of high-voltage batteries in April 2025, supporting MAN’s electric vehicle lineup, including its recently launched eTruck.
“The drives of the future are being created in Nuremberg. Not only are we developing batteries here, but in a few months’ time we will also be using the latest technologies to mass-produce them,” said Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus. He emphasized the importance of this development for MAN’s transformation towards electromobility and the company’s commitment to Bavaria and Germany as strategic business locations.
The Nuremberg facility will assemble battery packs from lithium-ion modules, which contain nickel, manganese, and cobalt. The packs will power MAN’s eTruck, urban buses, and future electric coaches. Depending on customer needs, the eTruck can accommodate up to seven battery packs, each influencing the vehicle’s range. Initial production capacity is set at 50,000 batteries annually, with plans to scale up to 100,000 units.
Bavaria has committed €30 million to support MAN’s battery research and development, facilitating advanced technologies such as laser-welded cells. Using robot-guided optics and precise sensors, this process ensures high-quality connections for individual battery cells. MAN is collaborating with the Technical University of Munich to refine these innovations for future battery generations.
MAN is investing approximately €100 million in the facility, which will include 50 assembly stations and seven quality assurance test stands. The investment is expected to create 350 local jobs. Vlaskamp highlighted the milestone as a testament to MAN’s strategic vision, stating, “The topping-out ceremony is an important milestone for our company on the road to the major transformation towards electromobility.”
