Volkswagen has invested Euro 100 Million for developing the know how to develop Li-ion batteries at its center of excellence at Salzgitter. The company is starting a pilot plant for production of batteries. In addition, a pilot plant for recycling of batteries will also be set up at this site by 2020. The company is also investing Euro 900 Million to set up a Gigafactory with Northvolt of Sweden for manufacturing batteries for their electric vehicle. Construction of a 16 gigawatt hour battery cell factory in Salzgitter is to start in 2020. It is planned to commence production in late 2023/early 2024. The company aims to cover the entire spectrum of activities at the site from increasing capacity to extend the range, reducing the use of scarce raw materials and optimizing sustainable manufacturing processes through to recycling battery systems.

Dr. Stefan Sommer, Member of the Volkswagen AG Board of Management responsible for Procurement, commented, “Bringing together the development, testing and pilot production of battery cells in Salzgitter marks a further milestone in the Volkswagen Group’s comprehensive electric offensive. By pooling know-how at this site, we are making sure we drive forward our own activities to further advance the development of battery cells as a key component in electrification, develop new standards and swiftly transition them to series production.”

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