DÜSSELDORF (dpa-AFX) - Defence group and automotive supplier Rheinmetall has bagged an order for switch protection parts in electric cars. The order has a total value of more than a quarter of a billion euros, the MDax company announced in Düsseldorf on Monday. Rheinmetall is supplying a German premium manufacturer with switch contactors for a new electric car platform starting in 2025. Switch contactors are to enable the safe switching on and off of electric vehicles with a 900-volt high-voltage electrical system. Rheinmetall did not name the customer. The stock gained 3.3 percent to 192.10 euros after the start of trading.

Last week, the group had reported a major order worth €770 million from an industrial customer for refrigerant compressors - also an order from the group's non-military sector.

Since the outbreak of Russia's war against Ukraine and the German government's plan to arm the German armed forces with special funds of 100 billion euros, investors have been focusing in particular on the Düsseldorf-based company's defense division. In recent years, Rheinmetall has significantly streamlined its automotive supply division, but also wants to do good business outside of defense in future fields such as electromobility./men/jha/