People + Companies

Excerpt

The car manufacturer Volkswagen is setting new standards for the development, testing, and production of battery cell technology in Germany. In Salzgitter alone, more than 1000 jobs are to be created by 2024: 300 at Volkswagen's development center and pilot line and 700 in a joint venture between Northvolt and Volkswagen to build and operate a battery cell factory. Volkswagen plans to invest over one billion euros in its battery cell business during the same period. A pilot line for small-scale battery cell production has been opened at the center of excellence in Salzgitter. Around 300 experts are working there on developing and testing manufacturing technologies for lithium ion batteries. During the first phase of its program, Volkswagen is investing over 100 million euros in increasing its own development and production expertise. In addition, the company is spending a further 900 million euros on its joint battery business with the Swedish battery producer Northvolt. Construction of a 16-GWh battery cell factory in Salzgitter is to start in 2020. The plan is for production to begin in late 2023 or early 2024.

…