Daimler, Bosch join forces on electric vehicle traction motors

Two German-based companies with locations in South Carolina have signed agreements for a 50-50 joint venture to produce electric motors.

Daimler AG and Robert Bosch GmbH are establishing a new company, EM-motive GmbH, to develop and produce traction motors for electric vehicles. Daimler has a Sprinter van assembly plant in North Charleston, and Bosch has manufacturing sites in North Charleston and Anderson.

The companies said they intend to accelerate the development of traction motors for electric vehicles powered by battery, fuel cell or range extender. Production of motors is expected to begin in early 2012.

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 electric motors produced by EM-motive will have a modular design, enabling them to be applied widely among all-electric vehicles.

The joint venture will supply Daimler and Bosch 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 1 million electric motors by 2020.

The new company’s headquarters and manufacturing facilities will be located in Hildesheim, Germany, and plans are for hiring 100 workers by the fourth quarter. EM-motive still must pass anti-trust regulatory approval. The company will be headed by two directors of equal rank from each partner company.