Shortly after LKM Babelsberg had delivered the two prototypes of the new BR V 100, the government of the GDR decided to stop building locomotives here. Now only the �VEB Lokomotivbau-Elektrotechnische Werke Hans Beimler� was responsible for supplying new traction vehicles. Following the experience with V 100 001 and 002, a third prototype was produced there, which proved itself in trial runs. Therefore the first serial engines were delivered to the DR in 1967.