ACC's first battery gigafactory in France to be operational by end of 2023

Battery firm Automotive Cells Company (ACC) recently inaugurated its first gigafactory in Billy-Berclau Douvrin in France for manufacturing battery packs for electric vehicles. Representing an investment of about € 850 million, the facility boasts an initial production line capacity of more than 13 GWh, scalable to 40 GWh by 2030.

Founded in 2020, ACC is a joint venture between Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz and TotalEnergies, through its subsidiary Saft. The company is targeting 120 GWh of aggregate battery production capacities in three gigafactorories accounting for 2.5 million batteries produced annually by 2030. 

The first of the site's three production units will be operational before the end of 2023, with ramp-up scheduled for completion by the end of 2024. The company already has an R&D center operational since 2020 in Bruges, near Bordeaux, and a state-of-the-art pilot plant in Nersac, in the New Aquitaine region. 

"We are proud to have developed a battery technology in France, whose production in our three sites in France, Germany and Italy illustrates our commitment to European industrial sovereignty in a strategic sector that is currently dominated by competition from Asia, which accounts for 85 percent of global battery production", commented Yann Vincent, Chief Executive Officer of ACC. 

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"With this inauguration, all ACC employees are committed to contributing to the ecological transition of transport through the production of innovative batteries", he added. 

Ola Källenius, Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-Benz, said, "ACC's new plant marks a key milestone in Europe's transformation to make its auto industry more resilient, competitive, and sustainable, also in the electric era. Together with our partners, we will develop and produce high-tech battery cells and modules in the heart of Europe, enabling Mercedes-Benz to build desirable electric cars for the world". 

"The start of battery production at the same location where Stellantis used to produce - and still produces - internal combustion engines is a strong symbol. The ACC Gigafactory will enable Stellantis' electric vehicles to be equipped with high-tech batteries, serving clean, safe, and affordable mobility for all", said Carlos Tavares, Chief Executive Officer of Stellantis.

ACC's other two gigafactories in Kaiserslautern, Germany and Termoli, Italy are expected to open up in 2025 and in 2026 respectively.