Mercedes-Benz has officially started production of the new all-electric C-Class at its plant in Kecskemet, Hungary. With this, the company is expanding European EV production ahead of the arrival of a new generation of electric models.
In order to prepare the factory for that job, Mercedes invested about one billion euros in the expansion of the location. New production halls, a battery assembly plant, a second press and a new paint shop were added. The factory has more than doubled in size, from 200 to 440 hectares, making it the largest automotive production facility in Hungary.
The electric C-Class is the first electric model from Mercedes’ basic range to roll off the production lines in Kečkemet. The company states that this plant will play an important role in the production of the next generation of electric vehicles.
The Mercedes electric C-Class rolls off the production lines in Kečkemet
Mercedes wants to reduce the need to transport key components around the world. That’s why batteries, body parts and other important components for the electric C-Class and the electric GLB are now produced at the same site. This shortens the supply chain and enables a faster response if demand changes.
Like many traditional automakers, Mercedes still maintains a flexible approach. One new production hall is dedicated to fully electric vehicles, while the existing lines can be adapted to the production of models with SUS engines and electric vehicles.
The Hungarian factory will work closely with the Mercedes plant in Rastat, Germany. This gives the company the ability to allocate production of models such as the future electric GLC to where demand is greatest. Mercedes also confirmed that the smaller version of the G-Class will be exclusively produced in Kečkemet.
The factory is also used for testing advanced production technologies. Mercedes created a complete digital copy of the new assembly hall using the NVIDIA Omniverse platform, so engineers can simulate production changes before putting them into production.
AI is also used for real-time quality control. The system helps detect faults on vehicles and analyze production data to increase accuracy and reduce defects.
At the same time, Mercedes is increasing the use of renewable energy in Kečkemet. The new 27.4 MW solar plant, together with the rooftop panels, gives the plant a total solar capacity of 42.3 MW. The company claims that this will cover about 25 percent of the plant’s annual electricity needs.
The new paint shop uses about 20 percent less energy than the previous facility and reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 80 percent. Measures to save water and reduce waste have also been introduced.
The factory in Kečkemet now employs more than 5,000 people and is becoming one of the key European Mercedes-Benz centers for the production of electric vehicles.