Verkor announces the construction of a battery cell factory in Dunkirk, in the North of France. In particular, it will supply Renault with an expected production capacity of 16 GWh in 2025 and 50 GWh in 2030.
Hauts-de-France is definitely becoming the nerve center for the supply of French batteries for electric and hybrid cars. Thus, after Envision AESC near Douai and Stellantis and TotalEnergies in Douvrin, Verkor announces the third French battery cell factory, this time in Dunkirk.
Verkor was created in 2020 in Grenoble, where research and development will still be based, and counts Schneider Electric and Renault Group among its supporters. The French manufacturer will also be one of Verkor’s first customers.
Forty sites were studied in France, Spain and Italy, from which Dunkirk stood out by responding “all the requirements of a Gigafactory in terms of land, logistics, energy capacity, proximity to customers, access to a skilled workforce and expansion”explains Verkor to The voice of the North.
Launch of production in 2025
The construction of this Gigafactory should begin in 2023 with the objective of an annual production capacity of 16 GWh in 2025, increased to 50 GWh in 2030. The first batteries should leave the production lines in July 2025.
Verkor will invest 1.5 billion euros to build this factory, which will initially employ up to 1,200 people, for more than 3,000 indirect jobs. Ultimately, 2,000 direct jobs are planned.
According to The voice of the Northa second plant will be built nearby to ensure a supply of raw materials such as nickel and cobalt currently used to produce NMC cells.
This plant is part of France and Europe’s desire to retain control of the electric vehicle value chain, while cell production is currently controlled by a handful of Asian players.