PARIS, June 29 (Reuters) – The Grenoble-based start-up Verkor inaugurates its innovation center for which it has raised around 350 million euros on Thursday, a prelude to the gigafactory of batteries for electric vehicles which it must then build in Dunkirk (North).
The site will accommodate more than 300 people divided between the company’s head office, a pilot production line and a “battery school” to train in new electrification professions.
At the same time, Verkor is continuing discussions to raise the funds necessary for the construction of its gigafactory, which should have a production capacity of 16 GWh per year in 2025 and 50 GWh in 2030. The total envelope is estimated at 1.5 billion euros. euros.
Verkor has raised funds for its innovation center with the support of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the public investment bank BPIfrance, among others.
For the continuation of the financing, a participation of Renault Group – shareholder with more than 20% of Verkor alongside EIT InnoEnergy, IDEC group, Schneider Electric and Capgemini – is “possible”, told Reuters a source close to the file.
According to Les Echos, the Australian investor Macquarie would be ready to inject 500 million euros in capital.
The Verkor gigafactory, which will notably supply Renault’s Alpine brand as part of a long-term commercial partnership, is one of the four sites of the future “battery valley” which will see the light of day in the North of the France. (Gilles Guillaume report, edited by Kate Entringer)
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