Mercedes-Benz invests hundreds of millions of euros to set up battery R&D center

Mercedes-Benz plans to invest hundreds of millions of euros to set up a battery research and development center at its headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. The center aims to develop new chemical combinations and optimize manufacturing processes to reduce battery costs by more than 30% in the next few years. The new center aims to produce tens of thousands of battery cells per year and plans to open a dedicated battery testing and trial center by the end of the year. In order to cope with competition in the electric vehicle market, Mercedes-Benz has invested in two solid-state battery companies, China's Huineng Technology and the United States' Factorial Energy. In addition to solid-state battery companies, Mercedes-Benz has also invested in Sila, an American battery material startup that focuses on the production of silicon-based negative electrode materials.