Mercedes-Benz Bets on Berlin for Next-Gen Electric Drive
Mercedes-Benz launches large-scale series production of the electric axial-flux motor in Berlin-Marienfelde. © Mercedes-Benz
Berlin's manufacturing scene just added another headline-worthy chapter. Mercedes-Benz has started large-scale series production of its new electric axial flux motor at its Berlin-Marienfelde plant, marking a significant moment for both the company and the German automotive industry.
According to the company's press release, the motor celebrates its world debut in a production vehicle in the new Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe, which can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 300 km/h. The three axial flux motors are compact enough to fit in motors measuring as little as eight centimetres wide, while still delivering exceptional power density.
What makes this production launch particularly notable is the sheer technical complexity involved. The press release states that the process involves 98 steps in total, 65 of which are new to Mercedes-Benz and 35 of which are new worldwide. The technologies developed for this purpose have resulted in more than 30 patent applications. Production spans around 30,000 square metres across three halls and seven production lines, combining laser technology, AI-based quality control and highly automated manufacturing.
One example of the precision involved: during the so-called "wedding" step of final assembly, the stator must be positioned between two rotor discs with magnetic forces of up to 9 kN acting on the components, while staying within a tolerance of less than 0.1 millimetres.
The Berlin-Marienfelde plant, founded in 1902 and part of the Mercedes-Benz global powertrain network for decades, is being established as a centre of excellence for high-performance electric motors. Since 2022 it has also housed the Mercedes-Benz Digital Factory Campus, a testbed for digital production applications.
The axial flux technology traces back to British specialist YASA, which became a wholly owned Mercedes-Benz subsidiary in 2021 and has since been further developed for automotive mass production in Berlin.