Daimler, VW, ZF, Bosch expand e-plants as electrification push intensifies

 

Daimler, Volkswagen Group, Volvo, ZF Friedrichshafen and Robert Bosch are among the automakers and suppliers expanding production to support the industrywide push toward electrified vehicles in Europe.

Daimler has started production of its full-electric EQC SUV in Bremen, Germany, and will shortly begin output of batteries at German plants in Sindelfingen and Untertuerkheim as well as Jawor, Poland, as it prepares to roll out more models from its EQ subbrand. The lineup expansion will include the EQV van, which will be built in Vitoria, Spain.

Volvo is now producing the plug-in hybrid version of the XC40 in Ghent, Belgium, where it is also expected to produce a full-electric version of the compact SUV as early as next year. Volvo makes the V60, XC60, V90, XC90 plug-in hybrids and the XC60, XC90 mild hybrids at its factory in Torslanda, Sweden.

Volvo parent Zhejiang Geely's London Electric Vehicle Company builds its TX5 plug-in London taxi in Coventry, England, while another member of the Chinese conglomerate's stable, Lotus, will add output of the full-electric Evija hypercar at its plant in Hethel, England.

On the supplier front, ZF Friedrichshafen is aggressively evolving into a key player in Europe's electrification shift. In Schweinfurt, Germany, the supplier builds electric motors used in plug-in hybrids from Audi, BMW, Porsche, VW and Volvo as well as electric axle drives for Daimler's battery-driven models.

In Brandenburg, Germany, ZF produces eight-speed dual-clutch transmissions for Bentley's and Porsche's plug-in hybrids. ZF also builds electric drives in Pancevo, Serbia.

Europe's largest supplier, Bosch, builds electric motors for Daimler, Porsche, Fiat, Volvo, Peugeot and StreetScooter at factories in Stuttgart and Hildesheim, Germany.

Volkswagen Group, the region's biggest automaker, continues to have the largest footprint for producing electrified models with 16 plants. These include Audi's factory in Brussels, Belgium, which already builds the e-tron full-electric SUV, and Porsche, which is getting ready to start serial production of the Taycan EV at its plant in Zuffenhausen.

Separately, VW brand has invested 1 billion euros at its factory in Zwickau, Germany, where it will build its first mass-produced MEB-based EV, the ID3 compact, starting next year.

The Renault-Nissan-AvtoVAZ alliance and Daimler, with its wholly owned subsidiary Accumotive, are tied for second on the list with 11 plants for each.

In total, Automotive News Europe's E-Car and Component Map identifies 85 sites producing electrified vehicles, batteries and components in the region, up from 61 plants last year. The 39 percent rise in entries from ANE's 2018 map is a clear indication that the industry is moving rapidly toward electrification as it seeks to meet tough EU emissions goals. The map is being continually updated to reflect this transition.

Sponsored by ElringKlinger, the E-Car and Component Map is the go-to resource for those wishing to stay on top of developments in electrification in Europe.

You can reach David Jolley at [email protected].