STUTTGART, July 8 (Reuters) - Mercedes-Benz

inaugurated a development and production centre for battery

cells on Monday at its headquarters in Germany, in a move to

take greater control of the chemical composition and industrial

manufacturing of its batteries.

The location, dubbed "Mercedes-Benz eCampus", will make tens

of thousands of battery cells a year in a 10,000 square metre

factory, with a view to opening a battery test and trial centre

by the end of this year.

Mercedes-Benz is working on lithium ion cells with

high-energy anodes and cobalt-free cathodes, as well as

solid-state technology, which holds the promise of more energy

storage, longer driving ranges and faster charging.

Increasing the energy density of EV batteries is key

particularly for premium carmakers looking to reduce weight and

costs while boosting driving range.

Cell designs developed at the new centre will be shared with

partner companies and incorporated into future battery cells

from suppliers, Mercedes-Benz Chief Technology Officer Markus

Schaefer said.

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck, an advocate of

investment in green technology, attended a tour of the site to

mark its inauguration.

"It is of key importance that Germany and Europe build up

their own capacities and, in particular, their own know-how in

this key technology," Habeck said in a statement.

The luxury carmaker has battery production sites in seven

locations including Germany, the U.S., China, and Poland, and

sources battery cells from suppliers including China's CATL.

It holds a 30% stake in battery cell venture ACC, which last

month paused work on factories in Europe amid slowing demand for

electric vehicles.

It has also invested in Sila Nanotechnologies, which makes

batteries using silicon-based anodes, and signed a supply

agreement with Brandenburg-based Rock Tech Lithium ( RCKTF ) to supply

lithium hydroxide for Mercedes-Benz batteries.