Mercedes-Benz Rastatt Plant To Produce Compact EVs For EQ Sub-Brand

As part of its overarching electric offensive - the Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant will produce compact class, electric vehicles for its (product and technology) EQ sub-brand models in the future.

Together with the sites in Bremen and Sindelfingen, all three German Mercedes-Benz car plants will produce EQ electric vehicles. Rastatt is the lead plant in the global production of Merc’s compact cars and is also slated to produce the next generation of compact cars.

The EQ range will encompass all future battery-electric cars as well as the associated products and services from Mercedes-Benz. The first series-produced EQ model will be launched in the SUV segment by 2020, and gradually supplement the portfolio of Mercedes-Benz Cars with electric models. More than ten new electric passenger cars are scheduled to be launched by 2022.

Future EQ models can be integrated into the series production of existing Mercedes-Benz plants. Thanks to highly flexible structures, the plants can produce vehicles with different drive types on the same line.

Mercedes-Benz is also open to producing future EQ models outside of Germany, although, foreign production locations will be decided on the basis of market demand.

The Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant is already running at high capacity utilization, and upgrading facilities and processes for the production start of the next compact car generation in 2018, this includes the construction of new body shops and a dedicated training centre.

In addition to Rastatt, Mercedes-Benz’s compact car range is produced in Keskemét, Hungary (B-Class, CLA, CLA Shooting Brake), BBAC Beijing, China (GLA) and Uusikaupunki, Finland (A-Class) by contract manufacturer Valmet Automotive.