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Sep 23, 2020 at 7:00 PMThe truck division of Mercedes-Benz will start series production of the eActros at the Wörth plant on the Rhine in 2021. The production of the eActros will run in addition to the ongoing production of trucks with combustion engines. The employee side welcomes the decision as a sign for the future.
(Stuttgart/Wörth am Rhein) “Now & Next” – Under this motto, Mercedes-Benz Trucks today presents new products at the Wörth location and gives an outlook on the future of sustainable mobility. Among the new products presented is a near-series prototype of the battery-electric eActros for heavy distribution traffic, which provides a very concrete outlook on the future series vehicle. Series production is set to begin in 2021 at the Wörth plant – in addition to the existing production of trucks with combustion engines. The eEconic, designed specifically for municipal use, is based on the Mercedes-Benz eActros and is expected to follow in series from 2022.
Wörth Plant Looks Forward to the Start
Dr. Matthias Jurytko, Head of Location and Production at the Wörth Plant: “I am very pleased that we will be building the first generation of the Mercedes-Benz eActros here in Wörth. The start of series production next year is an important milestone for the location and the region. This expands the portfolio of the Wörth plant and takes us another step towards CO2-neutral transport.” Electromobility also opens up perspectives for employees in production, as new areas of responsibility and job profiles are created. Dr. Matthias Jurytko: “The location is currently preparing intensively for the requirements in truck production related to electric drives. At the moment, for example, we are training our future experts in high voltage – these are essential skills when it comes to assembling vehicle batteries and building an electric truck.”
The employee side also reaffirms the decision for the location. Thomas Zwick, Works Council Chairman at the Wörth Plant: “Especially in these times, it is a very good and important signal that we were able to bring the first assembly of the series eActros to Wörth. We have fought hard for this, and I am proud that we are entrusted with the construction of our future products. This secures employment at the location and together with the workforce, we are taking the path ahead: the transformation of an entire industry towards new drives, more flexibility, and networking.”
Flexible Production: Electric and Conventional Models Largely on One Line
The electric truck models will be flexibly planned alongside trucks with conventional drives in assembly. In principle, the construction of different vehicle types is to take place as integrated as possible, and the basic structure of the vehicle will be built on one line – regardless of whether a conventional combustion engine or an electric drive train is installed. Depending on the vehicle type, specific adjustments will be made in the production process. The installation of various unconventional drive components takes place in a separate process, as does the assembly of the electric drive train in the eActros: The heart of the future eActros production is the production hall in building 75 of the Wörth plant. There, conversion measures and preparations for the new production processes have been underway for about a year. This includes, among other things, the establishment of a new assembly line, where the complete electric structure of the eActros, especially the high-voltage components, as well as its commissioning will take place. Subsequently, the vehicles will be reintegrated into the regular production process for finishing and final acceptance.
The eActros in Series: Outstanding Performance
At the IAA 2016, Mercedes-Benz Trucks presented the world’s first heavy electric truck. In early 2018, the technology leader celebrated the world premiere of the fully developed Mercedes-Benz eActros, and since autumn 2018, intensive practical tests with customers have been underway. The vehicles for customer testing were developed in collaboration between the Wörth, Mannheim, and Stuttgart locations.
The insights gained from customer testing flow directly into the further development of the prototype towards the series vehicle. So far, they show: The purely battery-electric eActros is the ideal vehicle for sustainable heavy distribution traffic. It is on par with a conventional diesel truck in terms of availability and performance in urban traffic, highway, or long-distance journeys. The approximately 200 kilometers range of the prototype has proven to be absolutely realistic – regardless of payload, route profile, or topography. Drivers are very pleased with the continuous availability of torque across the entire speed range. They also report a pleasant, quiet driving experience. Additionally, with anticipatory driving, electric energy can be recovered through recuperation.
The series eActros will, however, be significantly superior to the previous prototype in several aspects – such as range, drive performance, and safety. In terms of payload, the series eActros will also be on par with a conventional Actros. The eActros will be available as a two- and three-axle vehicle. Daimler Trucks will embed the vehicle in a comprehensive ecosystem that also includes consulting services related to e-mobility. This includes route analyses, checking possible subsidies, support for operational fleet integration, and developing suitable charging infrastructure solutions.
Investment in the Future: Electrification Also for the Econic
In addition to the eActros, the battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eEconic is also set to roll off the production line at the Wörth plant from 2022. This marks another step by Daimler Trucks towards the electrification of trucks. The technical basis for the eEconic is provided by the eActros. Both vehicles benefit from the global platform strategy of Daimler Trucks & Buses. This way, the series production of the electric models can be seamlessly expanded. The eEconic is ideally suited as a collection and disposal vehicle for municipal use due to its ergonomic and safe features, especially in urban traffic. This application is particularly well-suited for battery-electric trucks due to the comparatively short and fixed-planned routes of around 100 kilometers with a very high stop-and-go ratio.
Daimler Trucks is consistently driving the transformation of the business model towards a locally CO2-neutral future. The global production network of Mercedes-Benz Trucks will continue to receive investments. The focus is particularly on infrastructure measures as well as investments in special machines and technical facilities.
Production in Wörth Will Also Be CO2-Neutral
Furthermore, Daimler Trucks & Buses is setting the course for a “green” production in Germany and Europe: All German and European plants are to have a CO2-neutral energy supply by 2022. All other plants will follow. This means concretely that the existing truck and bus plants will only source their purchased electrical energy from renewable sources. The Wörth plant is also gradually transitioning to green production, thus contributing to the decarbonization of Daimler Trucks.
About the Mercedes-Benz Wörth Plant
The largest truck assembly plant of Mercedes-Benz Trucks in Wörth am Rhein was founded in 1963 and produces the Mercedes-Benz trucks Arocs, Atego – and for more than 20 years the world’s most successful heavy truck Actros. The Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks Econic, Unimog, and Zetros are also built here. Up to 470 trucks manufactured exactly according to customer specifications leave Wörth each day. Customers in over 150 countries appreciate the “Quality made in Wörth.” The location on the Rhine is the competence center for Mercedes-Benz trucks in the global production network. In addition, the Mercedes-Benz Wörth plant has over 50 years of experience in CKD production (Completely Knocked Down) and supplies vehicle kits to numerous overseas markets for local assembly – to date more than 750,000 kits. With around 10,300 employees, the Mercedes-Benz Wörth plant is the second-largest employer in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Photo: © Daimler Caption: Since 2018, the heavy, battery-electric eActros has been in intensive customer use. The insights gained from customer testing flow directly into the series development of the locally CO2-neutral E-truck for urban distribution traffic. The planned start of series production is from 2021 at the Mercedes-Benz Wörth plant.
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