What’s Happening
Stellantis, in partnership with TotalEnergies and Mercedes-Benz, announced the launch of the Automotive Cells Company’s (ACC) first battery gigafactory in Europe, located in Billy-Berclau Douvrin, France. The gigafactory’s production capacity will start at 13 gigawatt-hours (GWh), with plans to boost it up to 40GWh by 2030. The factory is set to start operations in one of its three production units before the end of the year.
Why It Matters
The inauguration of the gigafactory marks a significant stride in Stellantis’ objective of expanding battery production capacity to 250 GWh in Europe by 2030. This aligns with their mission to provide a broad range of battery technologies for all customer needs across the Stellantis brand portfolio. The company is expected to secure around 400 GWh of capacity by 2030, thanks to five additional gigafactories and multiple supply contracts in Europe and North America.
Key Points
Stellantis CEO, Carlos Tavares, stated that the partnership established in 2020 aimed to develop electric vehicle (EV) batteries to power the company’s electrification strategy. Tavares noted that the company’s goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2038 is on track. In addition, he recognized the company’s role in Europe’s electrification transition, appreciating the collective efforts of all involved in ACC.
The company currently has 24 Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) on the market, with plans to nearly double this number to 47 by the end of 2024. By 2030, Stellantis aims to have over 75 BEVs globally and achieve global BEV sales of 5 million.
Stellantis is also focusing on continuous development in battery chemistry to meet its customers’ diverse needs. The company is exploring innovative solutions such as Factorial’s solid-state battery technology and Lyten’s lithium-sulfur batteries to enhance vehicle performance and customer experience, thereby creating a more sustainable electric vehicle experience.
Bottom Line
As part of their growth strategy, Stellantis, ACC, the Union of Metallurgies Industries, and the state and region will establish the Battery Training Center of Douvrin. This program aims to upskill and reskill employees through a 400-hour course in battery manufacturing. By 2025, it is expected that at least 600 employees will join the battery manufacturing plant.
Furthermore, Stellantis aims to achieve 100% battery electric vehicle sales mix for passenger cars in Europe and a 50% mix in the United States by 2030, according to the Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan. These steps set Stellantis firmly on its path to becoming a net-zero carbon corporation by 2038.
