Siemens Mobility has broken ground on a state-of-the-art battery factory for rail vehicles in Luhe-Wildenau, Bavaria. The EUR 35 million project will create up to 200 new jobs and strengthen Germany’s position as a hub for sustainable transport innovation.
Covering 20,000 square metres, the plant will produce battery systems for Siemens regional trains, locomotives, and external customers. Construction is scheduled for completion in spring 2027, with series production set to begin in October 2027.
Commitment to German rail industry
The project is part of Siemens Mobility’s “Made for Germany” initiative, which aims to boost competitiveness, innovation, and sustainability in the domestic rail sector. Of the total investment, Siemens will contribute EUR 22 million, while the Bavarian government is supporting the development with EUR 2.7 million in subsidies.
Karl Blaim, CFO of Siemens Mobility, said:
“With the new battery system production facility in Luhe-Wildenau, we are making a clear commitment to Germany as a production and innovation hub. We are investing specifically in key technologies, creating high-quality jobs in the region, and strengthening the competitiveness of the domestic rail industry. At the same time, we are making an important contribution to the mobility transition and sending a strong signal for the future viability of Germany as a business location.”
Hubert Aiwanger, Bavarian Minister of State for Economic Affairs, added:
“This project will drive Bavaria forward, both technologically and economically. The production of state-of-the-art train batteries is a key, future-oriented field that will benefit not only Luhe-Wildenau and the Upper Palatinate, but Bavaria as a whole. Siemens Mobility is developing battery systems here that combine strong acceleration performance with high energy capacity for long-distance travel, so we can look forward to more powerful and efficient trains. At the same time, many high-quality jobs will be created in the region. This project will therefore strengthen our business location in the long term.”
Battery technology for decarbonisation
Since 2017, Siemens Mobility has been a leader in battery-electric regional trains and plans to expand its portfolio to include battery-electric locomotives for freight transport. These applications demand far greater robustness and durability than automotive batteries, with storage capacities of around 500 kWh for regional trains and up to 2,000 kWh for locomotives.
The Luhe-Wildenau facility will produce complete battery systems, including an innovative Battery Management System (BMS) developed with Munich-based partner Stercom. The BMS monitors and controls the batteries, ensuring safe operation and extending service life. While Siemens will integrate the systems, battery cells will be sourced from suppliers such as Toshiba.
Building on existing expertise
Pre-assembly of battery systems is already carried out in Luhe-Wildenau. The new facility builds on this expertise to establish full-scale production, with capacity to produce up to 120 MWh of battery storage per year in three-shift operation.
In addition to expanding its modular battery family and BMS technology, Siemens is investing in advanced automation and production processes, including state-of-the-art welding methods. The development of the site has been carried out in partnership with Dirnberger Real Estate GmbH and DIMONDA Projektbau GmbH, who will act as investors and landlords.
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