Mercedes-Benz, one of the world’s leading luxury car manufacturers, is investing heavily in upgrading its production network to make it fit for the new platforms being introduced from 2024. According to a recent report from a German media outlet, the company will start converting its plant in Rastatt this summer to build its first model based on the Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA). However, the Rastatt plant is not the only one that will be upgraded. Mercedes is also converting plants in Kecskemét, Hungary, and Beijing.
Jörg Burzer, Head of Production at Mercedes-Benz, revealed that the carmaker was investing a “three-digit million amount per plant” to make the production facilities fit for the new platforms. In June, Mercedes had announced an investment of over €2 billion in its European production sites.
As part of the upgrade, Mercedes will reduce the number of compact models from seven to four in the future. The first of these is likely to be the successor to the CLA. A model from the C-Class segment based on the all-electric MB.EA architecture is also planned for Kecskemét. “Two sporty AMG.EA models will be added to the lineup later, both of which will be produced exclusively in Sindelfingen,” says Burzer.
See also: Mercedes Benz expects to have factories producing exclusively electric vehicles after 2025
Mercedes plans to introduce new electric platforms from 2025, while combustion models and hybrids will continue to be built on the current platforms. However, there will only be new purely electric developments. The MB.EA platform will cover all medium-sized and large passenger cars above the MMA and “will be the electric basis of the future BEV portfolio as a scalable modular system.” For the performance models, the AMG.EA will “address the needs of Mercedes-AMG’s technology-savvy and performance-oriented customers.” Electric vans and light commercial vehicles will be based on the VAN.EA. All other new platforms are subsequently also to be purely electric.
Mercedes is also considering expanding its plant in Tuscaloosa in light of possible subsidies in the US. “We’re obviously looking at what happens with the Inflation Reduction Act,” says Burzer. “The framework conditions worldwide are always changing, and we have to react to that if necessary.”
The MMA was initially introduced as the last mixed platform that would be developed with a focus on electric vehicles but could also accommodate internal combustion engines. However, with the shift towards purely electric developments, Mercedes is investing heavily to make its production network fit for the new platforms being introduced from 2024.
