March 14, 2018 – With a strategic decision Mercedes-Benz Cars is enhancing the manufacturing footprint in South-East Asia addressing growing demand for electric mobility in the region. Together with local partner Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant (TAAP), the German carmaker will invest a total of over 100 Million Euros in the production operations in Bangkok until 2020. The investment will go into an extension of the existing car plant and into a new battery assembly built on the site ensuring availability of cutting-edge technology for electrified and “EQ Power” Plug-In Hybrid vehicles produced in Thailand.
The electric initiative in the flexible and efficient global production network of Mercedes-Benz Cars is progressing well and with ultimate speed. As part of our strategy, we are now preparing for the future of electromobility in Thailand together with our partner TAAP. With our highly standardized and scalable battery production concept we are able to start operations in any region at short notice and at the right size. The battery production in Thailand will enhance our global battery production network.
Markus Schäfer
Member of the Divisional Board of Management Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production and Supply Chain
Thanks to a standardized production and plant concept, the battery production concept of Mercedes-Benz Cars can be scaled in such a way that various value-added stages as well as production concepts can be implemented flexibly and in line with the markets worldwide.
Daimler will electrify the entire portfolio of Mercedes-Benz, offering customers at least one electrified alternative in all segments from compact cars to large SUVs. Mercedes-Benz will be continuously supporting the development of Plug-In Hybrids and the introduction of 48-volt-systems. The first EQ series model- the EQC - will go into production in 2019 in Bremen, Germany.
Sixth Mercedes-Benz factory to produce batteries
The battery production in Bangkok will be part of the global battery production network of Mercedes-Benz Cars for local demand and export. In total, Daimler will invest more than one billion Euros in the battery production network, which will also include production facilities in Germany, the U.S., China and Poland. As in vehicle production, the battery production network will react flexibly and efficiently to market demand. This strategy ensures the ongoing availability of modern battery technology through local production hubs and puts Mercedes-Benz in a highly competitive position for its electric initiative. Local production of batteries in Thailand is planned to start by 2019.
Confidence in the potential of Thailand’s passenger car market
Part of the joint investment of Mercedes-Benz Cars and local partner TAAP is the extension of the existing car plant leading to a substantial increase in the production portfolio, adding new models.
Mercedes-Benz has a long history in Thailand: The first car with a star was delivered to the King of Siam as early as 1904. In 2018, Mercedes-Benz sold more than 12.000 units (+8.6%) in Thailand – a new sales record. The best-selling models were the C- and E-Class sedans and the CLA Coupé. Also our Plug-in-Hybrid-models are very popular in Thailand. A broad portfolio of locally produced vehicles will continue the success story of Mercedes-Benz in Thailand in the future. Currently the brand with the three-pointed star offers ten locally produced models including the brand new CLS.
Crucial for the success story of Mercedes-Benz in Thailand is the close cooperation of Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Thailand and partner TAAP, who operates the plant in Bangkok. The plant currently employs over 1.000 people. It is expected that, once completed, the investment will create more than 300 additional jobs at the site, thereof nearly 100 for battery production alone.
