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Daimler Truck works with German machinery manufacturer Manz to develop battery tech

Daimler Truck has acquired a ten-percent stake in the German high-tech machine manufacturer Manz. The two companies will form a strategic partnership to establish a pilot line for the production of battery cells and the assembly of batteries at Daimler Truck’s Mannheim site. The aim is to develop innovative battery technology and associated production processes for trucks and buses.

Reutlingen-based Manz has more than ten years of process and product experience in plant engineering for cell and battery production.

The Mercedes-Benz plant Mannheim, which was founded in 1908, is Daimler Truck’s competence center for battery technologies and high-voltage systems. Mannheim already supplies the Mercedes-Benz plant Wörth with battery packs for series production of the all-electric eActros.

At the 10,000-square-meter InnoLab Battery in Mannheim, Daimler and Manz will set up over 60 new machines and systems. By the end of 2024, the research findings will be incorporated into the development of Daimler Truck’s battery-electric product platform, laying the foundation for Daimler to produce its own battery systems in the future.

“Our InnoLabs are working on the further development of the drive systems of the future: from prototyping to preparing for possible series production,” said Yaris Pürsün, Head of Global Powersystems Operation at Daimler Truck. “With this partnership, we will create benchmark solutions for the production of battery electric drive technologies in Europe.”


From left to right: Manfred Hochleitner, CFO Manz AG, Yaris Pürsün, Head of Global Powersystems Operation Daimler Truck, Dr. Jürgen Betz, Head of Manufacturing Engineering Global Powersystems Daimler Truck, Martin Drasch, CEO Manz AG

“The partnership between Daimler Truck and Manz forms an essential cornerstone of our battery strategy,” said Daimler Truck Board Member Dr. Andreas Gorbach. “We aim to be the innovation leader in the commercial vehicle industry. To do so, it is fundamental to have battery cells that meet the extremely specific requirements in trucks and buses. The prerequisite for this is the very close integration of product development and production processes. Together with Manz, we will shape this requirement.”

“The strategic cooperation with Daimler Truck as one of the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers reflects our strong position as an innovation driver and technology leader in the field of lithium-ion battery production,” said Manz CEO Martin Drasch. “Manz has decades of experience in process and product development in the battery sector as well as proven expertise in the realization of large-scale projects.”

Source: Daimler Truck, Manz

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