BERLIN – Daimler will produce its first in-house electric motor at its oldest factory in Berlin, the carmaker said on Thursday, providing relief to workers worried that diesel oil engine production site on the verge of deep job cuts.
Workers fearing their position after Daimler said in September 2020 its Berlin site will stop producing six-cylinder diesel engines within a year will also be offered retraining in the training. software and encryption, the German company said.
Investment in the 120-year-old Berlin-Marienfelde plant, previously recorded at 2 million euros, will grow to a low of 3 million euros over the next six years, Daimler said.
The motor, known as an axial flux motor and designed by British start-up YASA which Daimler acquired earlier this year, is a fraction as heavy as a diesel equivalent and could increase the range of an EV up to 7%, says YASA founder Tim Woolmer Reuters in July.
At the time, Woolmer said Daimler had briefed YASA about reducing costs in future engine iterations so the automaker could use them across its entire EV range. .
Head of production Joerg Burzer says the e-motor is simpler to manufacture than its diesel equivalent, meaning the plant will eventually require fewer workers – but the numbers are accurate. about future job losses remains unclear, head of production Joerg Burzer said in a press call. Engine production start date is not provided.
The digital training campus, which Daimler partnered with Siemens in March to develop and will open in 2022, will also create many new jobs, Burzer said.
About 2,300 plant employees are guaranteed their positions until early 2030 under an existing union agreement.
“A year ago, we didn’t know what would happen at the plant. Today we are embarking on what will hopefully be a successful transformation with our heads held high,” said Michael Rahmel, chairman of the board. working in Berlin-Marienfelde, said in the report.
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