Star Assembly, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz AG, has expanded its manufacturing operations and officially commenced the assembly of electric drive units for the all-new, fully electric Mercedes-Benz GLC (provisional data: combined energy consumption 14.9–18.8 kWh/100 km | combined CO₂ emissions 0 g/km | CO₂ class: A).
The addition of electric vehicle component production reinforces the strategic importance of the Sebeș plant within Mercedes-Benz’s global production network and long-term business strategy. Sebeș becomes the second facility worldwide to supply Mercedes-Benz vehicle plants with electric drive units. The site works in close cooperation with the company’s Untertürkheim plant in Germany — the competence center for drive technologies — which produces units for the new CLA and upcoming Top-End models.
By assembling electric drive units, the Sebeș plant provides key components for the fully electric GLC, which will begin series production next year at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen, Germany. Starting next year, Sebeș will also deliver electric drive units to the Mercedes-Benz plant in Kecskemét, Hungary, where production of the new electric C-Class will take place.
Romania’s Prime Minister, Ilie Bolojan, along with other government officials, attended the production launch ceremony at the Star Assembly plant in Sebeș.
“Producing the electric drive units for the new all-electric Mercedes-Benz GLC marks a key milestone in our plant’s transformation and underscores Sebeș’s role in the global Mercedes-Benz production network. Investments in new production capabilities boost flexibility and strengthen our future readiness. I am proud of our highly skilled and dedicated team, which continues to build on its success story with this new high-tech product.”
— Jörg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, responsible for Production, Quality, and Supply Chain Management
“Mercedes-Benz’s investments bring technology transfer, market access, job creation, and deeper integration of Romanian industry into the European value chain — laying the foundation for sustainable economic growth. When a company invests, it means more than just production; it also supports education and social responsibility. To remain competitive, we must have a skilled workforce. I want to thank and congratulate the Star Assembly Sebeș team for their outstanding contribution.”
— Ilie Bolojan, Prime Minister of Romania
“Today marks an important step toward the future of mobility. This success is the result of teamwork, commitment, flexibility, and expertise. We are proud of our skilled employees and grateful for the strong support from the local community and authorities. Together, we are establishing Sebeș as a key hub in Mercedes-Benz’s global electrification strategy.”
— Gheorghe Achim, CEO of Star Assembly & Star Transmission
Mercedes-Benz has invested in a new 30,000-square-meter facility that integrates both assembly and logistics for electric drive unit production. This investment reflects the company’s strong commitment to its highly skilled workforce, the development of the Alba region, and Romania’s role in the high-tech automotive sector. The project also received approval for state aid from the Romanian Government.
Digital and Sustainable: High-Tech Production of Electric Drive Units
The electric drive unit for the new GLC was developed entirely in-house at Mercedes-Benz. It consists of three main subsystems: the electric motor, power electronics, and the gearbox for power transmission. The Sebeș plant assembles these components into complete systems, which are then shipped to the Bremen plant for final vehicle production.
The assembly process is highly sophisticated, encompassing more than 200 manual and automated operations along a 1,000-meter-long production line covering approximately 15,000 square meters. All positions at the new facility are filled by existing Sebeș employees, who have undergone comprehensive retraining and qualification programs to ensure long-term employment and skills development.
The plant is fully integrated into MO360, the Mercedes-Benz digital production ecosystem, via the MO360 Data Platform, which enables full traceability of each component and all associated production data.
Production at the Sebeș site follows a sustainable, net carbon-neutral model, powered entirely by renewable electricity, in line with all Mercedes-Benz production network standards. Plans are underway for the installation of a photovoltaic system with up to 5 MW capacity. Additionally, the new production hall is equipped with a heat pump system for efficient energy use.
Source: automotiveworld.com