Benz expects this will happen in the second half of the decade.
The automaker won’t build new EV-dedicated factories anytime soon.
Mercedes-Benz’s EV strategy is very similar to other automakers. In brief, get to market fast, offer plenty of range, and load up the vehicles with more technology and features than really necessary. Its plans involve numerous electrified models to come over the next few years but when it comes to its production plants, they have a different approach.
2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB | Photo: Dan Heyman
Instead of building all-new EV-dedicated plants, Mercedes-Benz is converting its existing facilities in such a way that will make them flexible enough to meet market demands.
“Building a whole new battery-electric vehicle factory takes time. We have taken another approach,” production chief Joerg Burzer said as reported by Reuters. “We will certainly have some lines producing only electric vehicles in the next few years… we also see whole factories switching to electric – that is a topic for the second half of the decade.”
While some of its factories will churn out only EVs by mid-decade and beyond, many will retain the ability to build ICE vehicles alongside electrified models. This maneuverability will allow Benz to increase EV output without sacrificing ICEs.
According to Reuters, only 2.3% of Benz sales were EVs last year. That number grows to 11% if PHEVs and hybrids are tabulated. Mercedes expects the latter figure to increase to 50% by 2025.
