New corporate strategy: The car manufacturer from Wolfsburg is teaming up with the Chinese cell manufacturer Gotion to manufacture batteries. The factory is to be located in Salzgitter.
Volkswagen has finalized its billion-dollar plans to set up its own battery cell factories and is teaming up with a large supplier from China at the Salzgitter location.
The works council also sees good opportunities for the possible construction of another cell plant in Germany.
As the company announced on Tuesday at the presentation of the new corporate strategy, the Chinese cell manufacturer Gotion High-Tech is to participate as a “technology partner” at the headquarters of the previous engine plant in Lower Saxony. For its part, VW is already involved with the company. Both sides had signed an agreement on Salzgitter at the beginning of the week, it was said in Wolfsburg. The year 2025 is targeted as the start of production.
Volkswagen is setting up its own production facility in Salzgitter for the battery cells, which are often still in short supply, in order to become less dependent on external suppliers. There is already a pilot line here.
The employee representatives have been campaigning for another “gigafactory” in Germany for a long time. The works council said that the goal was now “a decisive step closer”. There has not yet been a specific decision. But the board of directors is therefore “basically ready to set up another cell factory in Germany as part of its battery strategy. For a corresponding decision on such an investment, the necessary economic efficiency and political support from a future federal government are crucial. ” The management will “sound out appropriate possibilities for a German location”.
A total of five more cell factories will be built in the coming years. In Sweden, for example, our partner Northvolt is there. When choosing further locations, the group decided to go to Spain – the home of its Seat brand. The country is said to be “a strategic pillar in the electrical strategy”. A strategic partner is still being sought.
In addition, the VW Group wants to locate the production of its planned small electric car series (“Small BEV”) in Spain from 2025 onwards. A concrete investment decision in this case depends, among other things, on whether there is state support for this.
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
