Mercedes targets Tesla’s batteries. Deliveries of 46100 cells from Wrocław to Stuttgart will begin in 2028.

In short:

Mercedes is preparing the next generation of electric vehicles

A key component of this strategy will be new cylindrical cells, the 46100 model, supplied by LG Energy Solution Wrocław

The company is evaluating the possibility of building production lines for the 46 series cells in Poland, according to a representative from the Korean firm

Deliveries are set to begin in 2028

Mercedes is focusing on a new battery format, with production planned to start in Poland

In Europe’s electric vehicle battery landscape, Poland may soon play an even more important role. As reported by South Korean industry portal The Elec, LG Energy Solution is preparing to launch a new type of cylindrical 46100 cells at its Wrocław plant for future Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles.

This new format has not been publicly shown by the Korean manufacturer before. The designation 46100 refers to a cell with a diameter of 46 mm and a height of 100 mm. According to industry sources cited by The Elec, production lines are set to be established in Poland, with deliveries to Mercedes starting in 2028.

Importantly, LGES is considering not only the production of cells themselves but also battery modules. This would represent a significant step in the company’s development, as previously, the assembly of modules and packs for cylindrical cells was often handled by external partners.

According to Retailnews.asia, an industry representative said, “The end user of these batteries is Mercedes-Benz.” Meanwhile, a representative from LG Energy Solution confirmed that the company is evaluating setting up production lines for 46-series cells in Poland, citing favorable investment support policies in Europe, though it did not officially confirm specific customers—according to industry media reports.

Why is Mercedes choosing cylindrical cells?

This decision fits into a broader strategy to diversify energy storage technologies. Just a few years ago, Mercedes focused mainly on pouch cells, which are flat packages used by many Asian manufacturers.

Currently, the German brand is simultaneously developing partnerships with suppliers of cylindrical and prismatic cells. According to information cited by Electrive, LG Energy Solution will supply cylindrical cells for future models, while Samsung SDI will be responsible for delivering prismatic cells.

At the same time, Mercedes maintains relationships with other battery manufacturers such as CATL, SK On, and Farasis. Such a wide network of suppliers is intended to reduce risks related to component availability and enable the use of different technologies depending on the vehicle segment (editor’s note).

New cells larger than the popular 2170

However, it is the 46100 format itself that draws the most attention. Currently, the most popular cylindrical cell formats in the market are 18650 and 2170 (21700). The former have a diameter of 18 mm and a height of 65 mm, while the latter are 21 mm in diameter and 70 mm in height. The 46-series cells are significantly larger than these.

According to data cited by The Elec, a single 46-Series cell can store more than five times as much energy as a 21700 cell. This means that fewer cells can be used in a pack to achieve the same or even greater capacity. It may seem like a simple change, but it has significant implications for vehicle design. Fewer cells mean fewer electrical connections, a reduced number of potential failure points, and the possibility of simplifying the entire battery pack.

Technology inspired by Tesla’s solutions

The 46 mm format is widely associated with Tesla, which has become one of the pioneers in adopting large cylindrical 4680 cells. The new batteries also feature a “tabless” design, meaning they lack traditional current leads. In conventional cells, electricity flows through special “ears” on the electrodes. In this tabless design, energy can be extracted from virtually the entire surface of the electrode.

The result? Lower electrical resistance, less heat generation, and the ability to transfer energy faster. As The Elec notes, this solution improves the power parameters and efficiency of the cells.

The next stage in strategic collaboration

The partnership between LG Energy Solution and Mercedes is developing very rapidly. According to industry media, the companies have signed four long-term supply contracts since October 2024. The largest of these include: 50.5 GWh for the years 2028–2038, 32 GWh for Europe for the years 2028–2035, and 75 GWh for the U.S. market for the years 2029–2037.

The value of contracts signed in September and December 2025 is estimated by the industry at around 17 trillion won – approximately 50 billion zloty. The scale of these orders explains why LGES is considering taking over a larger portion of the value chain, including not only cell production but also battery modules and packs.

What does this mean for future Mercedes vehicles?

Although Mercedes and LG Energy Solution have not yet revealed specific models, the use of 46100 cells suggests that future electric vehicles from the brand may feature batteries with higher energy density, simpler designs, and potentially lower production costs.

In practice, this could mean greater range with a similar battery weight or maintaining current performance while reducing the vehicle’s production costs. It is this second goal that has become one of the most important challenges for electric vehicle manufacturers today.

Many indications suggest that Wrocław will become one of the key hubs for Europe’s battery transformation, and the new 46100 cells may play a similar role for Mercedes as the 4680 cells do for Tesla.

How will the 46100 cells differ from current batteries?

The new 46100 cells represent more than just a change in size. It represents a completely different approach to designing traction batteries. First and foremost, an individual cell will be significantly larger than the currently used 2170 cells. If a pack uses larger cells, fewer of them are needed, which reduces the number of electrical connections, welding points, and structural components. As a result, the pack can be lighter and cheaper.

The second important difference is the tabless design. In currently used cells, energy flows through relatively small terminals. In the new cells, current is drawn from a larger electrode surface, which improves efficiency and reduces energy losses.

The third advantage is better temperature management. The larger cells in the 46 series are designed to dissipate heat more quickly. This is particularly important during fast charging and dynamic driving.

The next step could be the development of so-called cell-to-pack or cell-to-body designs. With larger cells, manufacturers can reduce the number of modules or even eliminate them altogether by integrating the battery directly into the vehicle’s structure. Such solutions reduce the vehicle’s weight and improve its stiffness.

Production also plays a significant role. Larger cells mean fewer assembly steps on the production line. That’s why manufacturers, from Tesla to Mercedes, are increasingly interested in larger cylindrical formats.

Oskar Włostowski