- The Chinese supplier is building a battery factory in Bitterfeld and is believed to supply Daimler from the location.
- Business Insider learned from corporate circles that the plan had failed.
- Last year, Daimler bought 400 million euros from a Chinese supplier.
This must be a collaboration of great importance. Daimler invested about 400 million euros in Chinese battery maker Farasis in 2020 and in return received a three percent stake in the company. In the medium term, Farsi should become a “cornerstone” in the sale purchase for Daimler. This is the most popular product for the group with which to electrify the entire model portfolio in Stuttgart.
In the spirit of good cooperation, the Chinese are building a battery factory in Bitterfeld, which costs about 600 million euros. The company with the star actually had to be supplied from there. But nothing will come of it, Business Insider learned from corporate circles. In the coming years, Bitterfeld would not provide any battery cells for Daimler.
Against this background, it is not surprising that the boardroom of Stuttgart-Unterturkheim took the fundamental decision to manufacture battery cells itself. Business Insider exclusively reported. The board members want to make themselves less dependent on Chinese suppliers for a strategically important component of the e-car. The battery itself accounts for about 40 percent of the cost of electricity – and thus a substantial portion of the added value.