Bibb County/Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Mercedes-Benz opens a new battery plant in Bibb County, Alabama, a few months ahead of the start of production of all-electric Mercedes-EQ vehicles in the United States (U.S.). The world’s most valuable luxury automotive brand is getting ready to go all electric by ramping up production of electric cars on three continents. The new U.S. battery factory underscores the importance of the United States within the Mercedes-Benz global production network and the status of Alabama as an export hub for luxury SUVs also in the electric era.

Mercedes-Benz will produce the EQS SUV and EQE SUV in its plant in Alabama, as part of a global push to produce all-electric vehicles at seven locations on three continents. The state-of-the-art battery factory in Bibb County will provide batteries for the new EQS SUV and the EQE SUV.
Production of the high-performance lithium-ion batteries for the EQS SUV and EQE SUV is CO2-neutral. High-performance lithium-ion batteries are assembled into a complete system on a production line around 300 meters long with more than 70 work stations. Using a fully digitalized production process, a variety of components are combined, including up to twelve cell modules and the so-called EE compartment, for the intelligent integration of the power electronics. Up to 600 new jobs will be created in Bibb County.

The battery system, which will be fitted to the 7-seater EQS SUV, employs a modular design already seen in the EQS and EQE and uses highly advanced cell chemistry containing nickel, cobalt and manganese in a ratio of 8:1:1. The reduction of cobalt content to around ten percent, in addition to the CO2-neutral production of the batteries, enhances sustainability.

With the new plant, Bibb County becomes part of the Mercedes-Benz global battery production network which stretches factories on three continents including in Kamenz, Germany, Beijing China, Bangkok Thailand, Jawor Poland and Stuttgart, Germany. The individual factories supply local vehicle production and, if necessary, are ready for export. Mercedes-Benz is investing more than one billion Euros in the development of the global battery production network.

New safety and training concepts were developed for the employees at the plant. Mercedes-Benz attaches particular importance to training when it comes to operational and occupational safety. For example, every team member who has access to the battery plant must complete a comprehensive high-voltage safety training course. Mercedes-Benz spends a great deal of time and effort on these training courses, especially as the training is repeated regularly.
Mercedes-Benz will be ready to go fully electric by the end of the decade – wherever market conditions allow. To reach its target the company, together with partners, plans to build eight cell factories worldwide with a production capacity of 200 Gigawatt hours by the end of the decade. Mercedes-Benz will expand its partnerships with the world’s leading battery technology companies.

In order to localize important suppliers, Mercedes-Benz is partnering with one of the world's leading battery technology companies Envision AESC. Envision AESC will supply the Mercedes-Benz battery factory in Bibb County with high-performance battery modules from a new plant within the U.S., supplies will commence from mid of the decade.

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