Press release
Corporate Press
April 1, 2014

Daimler and Evonik restructure lithium-ion activities

  • Daimler to acquire from Evonik a 50.1percent interest in Li-Tec and a 10 percent stake in Deutsche ACCUmotive
  • This will make Daimler the sole owner of both companies


Stuttgart / Essen, Germany - Daimler AG and Evonik Industries AG are restructuring their activities in the field of electric mobility in Kamenz and Kirchheim/Teck, and are thus reflecting the changed market conditions. Daimler will acquire all of the shares held by Evonik in Li-Tec Battery GmbH (50.1 percent) and in Deutsche ACCUmotive GmbH & Co. KG (10 percent). This will make Daimler the sole owner of the two companies. The parties have agreed not to divulge the details of the agreement.

In recent years, Daimler and Evonik have together developed the industrial series production of lithium-ion battery cells for electric vehicles in Kamenz. In line with its systematic focus on specialty chemicals, Evonik had been seeking new perspectives for its lithium-ion business.
"The agreement creates important opportunities for Germany as an industrial location in an international environment of intense competition for realizing electric mobility as the drive system of the future. In this way, Evonik and Daimler have found a good solution," stated Thomas Hermann, Head of Corporate Development at Evonik Industries.
Harald Kröger, Head of Development at Mercedes-Benz Cars Electrics/Electronics, explained: "Along the value chain for drive-system batteries with lithium-ion technology, we now have the two most important components: the production of battery cells and the related development and production of highly complex drive-system batteries as a combination of cells and battery electronics. In this way, we secure not only expertise in electric mobility, but also the sites in Kamenz and Kirchheim/Teck."

Li-Tec Battery GmbH is based in Kamenz near Dresden. With approximately 380 employees, it develops, produces and distributes large lithium-ion battery cells. They are used in the current model of the smart fortwo electric drive. The electric version of the urban two-seater micro car was the market leader amongst all newly registered electric cars in Germany in 2013 with a market share of about 30 percent.

Deutsche ACCUmotive was established in April 2009 as a joint venture to secure the pioneering role of Daimler AG in the field of electric mobility. The company made Daimler one of the few automobile manufacturers to develop batteries for automotive applications and also to produce them in Germany starting in 2012. Deutsche ACCUmotive had approximately 230 employees as of December 31, 2013. The company’s headquarters and its research and development department are near Stuttgart in Kirchheim unter Teck/Nabern. Deutsche ACCUmotive’s production plant has been in Kamenz since 2010; a second production building went into operation there in July 2013.

Further information are available in the internet www.media.daimler.com, www.daimler.com.

 

Company information

Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders
in specialty chemicals. Profitable growth and a sustained increase in the value of the company form the heart of Evonik’s corporate strategy. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms.

Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In fiscal 2013 more than 33,500 employees generated sales of around €12.9 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of about €2.0 billion.

 

About Daimler

Daimler AG is one of the world’s most successful automotive companies. With its divisions Mercedes-Benz Cars, Daimler Trucks, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Daimler Buses and Daimler Financial Services, the Daimler Group is one of the biggest producers of premium cars and the world’s biggest manufacturer of commercial vehicles with a global reach. Daimler Financial Services provides financing, leasing, fleet management, insurance and innovative mobility services.
The company’s founders, Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz, made history with the invention of the automobile in the year 1886. As a pioneer of automotive engineering, Daimler continues to shape the future of mobility today:

The Group’s focus is on innovative and green technologies as well as on safe and superior automobiles that appeal to and fascinate its customers. For many years now, Daimler has been investing continually in the development of alternative drive systems with the goal of making emission-free driving possible in the long term. So in addition to vehicles with hybrid drive, Daimler now has the broadest range of locally emission-free electric vehicles powered by batteries and fuel cells. This is just one example of how Daimler willingly accepts the challenge of meeting its responsibility towards society and the environment. Daimler sells its vehicles and services in nearly all the countries of the world and has production facilities on five continents. Its current brand portfolio includes, in addition to the world’s most valuable premium automotive brand, Mercedes-Benz, the brands smart, Freightliner, Western Star, BharatBenz, Fuso, Setra and Thomas Built Buses.
The company is listed on the stock exchanges of Frankfurt and Stuttgart (stock exchange symbol DAI). In 2013, the Group sold 2.35 million vehicles and employed a workforce of 274,616 people; revenue totaled €118.0 billion and EBIT amounted to €10.8 billion.

Disclaimer

In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release