Mercedes GLC electric drive production begins in Romania
Manufacturing of the new Mercedes GLC’s in-house-built electric drive system has started at Mercedes’ Star Assembly factory in Sebeș, Romania.
At the Munich motor show in September this year, Mercedes announced an all-electric version of its GLC. This mid-sized SUV will go on sale by the end of 2025, and is based on the Stuttgart-based carmaker’s new MB.EA platform. With its 800V electrical architecture, MB.EA allows for ultra-rapid charging speeds of up to 330kW.
The Mercedes GLC is part of the “biggest launch programme” in the brand’s history – by the end of 2027, Mercedes aims to introduce 15 new or updated EVs to its line-up, including an all-new electric C-Class. This latest version of Mercedes D segment compact executive car will be built at the Mercedes factory in Kecskemét, Hungary.
Star Assembly, a wholly-owned Mercedes subsidiary, opened in Sebeș in 2013. Until now, it was solely responsible for producing transmissions. Mercedes announced at the end of 2022 that it would begin making its electric drive units at the site.
The electric drive systems for Mercedes’ previous generation models, the EQA, EQC, and EQE were sourced from external partner and German automotive tech specialists, ZF, who also provided the EQC’s complete drive module. Valeo Siemens eAutomotive were responsible for providing the electric motors for the EQS flagship.
Mercedes has invested heavily in the 30,000 square-meter Sebeș plant to integrate both the assembly and logistics functions of electric drives, whose components consist of three subsystems: an electric motor, power electronics, and a transmission.
The Sebeș site works closely with Mercedes’ Untertürkheim plant in Germany, the brand’s centre of excellence for drive technologies. There, the drive units for the new CLA and future flagship models will be produced.
At the opening of the Sebeș factory, Romainian Prime Minister, Ilie Bolajan praised the Star Assembly team and thanked them for their role in boosting the Romainian economy.
“The investments of Mercedes-Benz mean technology transfer, access to markets, jobs and the integration of the Romanian industry into the European value chain – this lays the foundation for an economy that will generate healthy development for the future,” said Bolejan.
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“When a company comes to a location, it’s not only about production itself. It also means supporting education and social responsibility. To be a competitive country means to have a qualified workforce. I want to thank and congratulate the team at Star Assembly Sebeș for their significant contribution.”
Mercedes is not the only manufacturer to begin EV production in the Central Eastern Europe region. Last month, Toyota announced that it will build its next EV at its Kolín facility in the Czechia.
In March this year, Ford confirmed that it will build its all-electric Puma Gen-E, E-Tourneo Courier, and E-Transit Courier at its Craiova factory, Romania. Following an €190 million investment from parent company Stellantis, Fiat is building its Grande Panda at the ex-Yugo plant in Kragujevac, Serbia.
