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Daimler and Bosch sign agreements for electric motors joint venture

18th July 2011

Daimler

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Daimler AG and Robert Bosch GmbH have completed their negotiations and signed agreements on the establishment of a 50:50 joint venture for electric motors. These agreements are still subject to the approval of the antitrust authorities. The new company, which is to be set up under the name EM-motive GmbH, will develop and produce innovative electric motors – also known as traction motors – for electric vehicles. The company will have its headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Hildesheim. The joint venture’s engineering site will be located close to the parent companies in the Stuttgart area. Some 100 employees are expected to start working for the joint venture in the fourth quarter of this year. EM-motive GmbH will be headed up by two directors of equal rank, one from each partner company.

According to Prof. Dr. Herbert Kohler, Vice President e-drive & Future Mobility in Group Research & Advanced Engineering and Chief Environmental Officer of Daimler AG: Like lithium-ion batteries, electric motors are key components for our electric vehicles. It is extremely important that competence in this field is maintained in Germany. In joining forces with Bosch, we have now teamed up with a long-standing partner, and are confident that this move will lead to outstanding results.

Wolf-Henning Scheider, the member of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH responsible for the Chassis Systems Control, Electrical Drives, and Starter Motors and Generators divisions, says: “This alliance is an investment in securing the future of the European automotive industry. It is also a perfect addition to our portfolio of electric motors for all our customers”.

The aim of the cooperation between Daimler and Bosch in the field of electric mobility is to pool competencies and exploit synergies, and as a result to accelerate the development of premium traction motors for electric vehicles with battery, fuel cell, or range extender. The preparatory activities for the establishment of the joint venture have already begun, and the production of motors is due to commence at the start of 2012. From that same year, the traction motors will be used in the electric vehicles of both the Mercedes-Benz and smart brands, starting with the new generation of the smart fortwo electric drive, which is to go on sale in early 2012.

The distinctive feature of the electric motors produced by the joint venture is their modular design, which means that they can be installed in a wide variety of all-electric vehicles.

The joint venture will supply its parent companies with electric motors for electric vehicles. Sales to third parties will be carried out by Bosch. According to current plans, the joint venture will have produced more than one million electric motors in all by 2020.

When it comes to the development and production of electric traction motors, both companies will be contributing their engineering know-how. As a leading supplier to the automotive industry, the technology and service company Bosch has a high level of expertise and decades of experience in both the development and production of electric motors.

For its part, the automotive manufacturer Daimler can draw on more than 20 years of experience in the field of electromobility, particularly in fuel cells and batteries. It thus has extensive competence with respect to the development and production of electric vehicles.