On July 8th, 2021, the freshly overhauled diesel locomotive, road number 218 497, is presented in its new livery "From the Past into the Future" at the DB locomotive and car maintenance facilities in Cottbus.
In the following years, DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung GmbH (FZI) will operate the latest and most environmentally friendly railroad maintenance center for Europe in Cottbus. By 2026, a new ICE hall for maintenance and repairs of the ICE 4 will be built at the current location, as well as a hall for the conversion of diesel units to hybrid technology with electric propulsion, a technology center for hybrid research and modern training facilities.
Thus the livery symbolises the history of the Cottbus facility from steam locomotive overhauling (black/red) to ICE maintenance (ICE white with red stripes).
For this locomotive, DB FZI is listed as the owner and its future use is to be as a lease locomotive.