Volkswagen Group is starting the development, testing and production of cutting-edge battery cell technology.
In Salzgitter (Lower Saxony, Germany), more than 1,000 jobs are to be created by 2023/24 for testing and producing battery cells – 300 at Volkswagen’s development centre and pilot production line, plus 700 in a joint venture between Northvolt and Volkswagen to build and operate a battery cell factory. More than €1 billion is to be invested in the Volkswagen Group’s battery cell activities over the same period.
A pilot line for small-series battery cell production was opened at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Salzgitter in September. About 300 experts are involved in developing, testing and piloting innovative manufacturing technologies for the production of lithium-ion batteries. In a first step, Volkswagen is investing more than €100 million in amassing its own development and production know-how.
In addition, Volkswagen is investing a further €900 million in joint battery activities with the Swedish battery producer Northvolt. 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 or early 2024.
A battery recycling pilot line is also under construction in Salzgitter and is due to begin operating in 2020.
