Daimler Confirms Second R&D Facility In China

Daimler has announced plans to build a Research and Development Tech Center China with a total investment of over RMB 1.1 billion (USD 158.5 million). This marks the further expansion of the company’s footprint in China and its second major R&D site in Beijing, following the Mercedes-Benz R&D Center first established in 2014. 

Located on the premises of the local Beijing Benz Automotive Co. (BBAC) production hub, the R&D Tech Center will allow Daimler to accelerate the localisation of new Mercedes-Benz products, including battery-electric vehicles in China.

Scheduled to start operations in 2020, the R&D Tech Center’s proximity to the production hub will enable the integrated campus concept of local production with R&D, through the existing pilot plant, test track, and test benches at BBAC.

Covering a gross built-up area of 55,000 m-sq., the Daimler R&D Tech Center China will consist of a test building, warehouse, and an office building; which can accommodate up to 600 employees.

It will house a wide array of cutting-edge test facilities for overall vehicle and component testing, ranging from electric drive and charging, powertrain, chassis, in-vehicle air quality, emissions, noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), as well as a consolidated workshop for overall vehicle and endurance testing.

Other Daimler R&D activities also include automated driving, connectivity, and electric drive; in which the China facility has become a key player in Daimler’s global R&D network. In July Daimler became the first international automaker to receive a road test license for Level 4 highly automated driving research vehicles in Beijing.