French company Verkor has begun production at its first gigafactory for lithium-ion battery cells in Bourbourg, near Dunkirk. Initially designed for an annual capacity of 16 gigawatt-hours, the new production facility will supply batteries for electric vehicles. The first application of the cells produced there is planned for the Alpine A390 model in 2026. By 2030, the company aims to expand capacity to 50 gigawatt-hours. According to Verkor, the facility will create around 1,200 direct jobs.
Ensuring traceability and efficiency
Industrial production is based on development work carried out at the Verkor Innovation Center in Grenoble where cell technology was developed and manufactured on a pilot scale. The company reports that the pilot line operated 24/7 and served as a template for mass production. The processes were then transferred to the new factoryʼs industrial scale. Verkor highlights its proprietary digital architecture as a technological feature designed to ensure traceability and efficiency in production.
Investment of over three billion euros
Financing for the plant in Hauts-de-France and the innovation center in Grenoble amounts to more than three billion euros. In addition to its own funds, this capital comes from a combination of public subsidies and private investments. Investors include industrial partners, such as the Renault Group, as well as international banks and government institutions, including the European Investment Bank.
Source:
https://verkor.com/en/verkor-reaches-a-decisive-milestone-and-opens-its-first-gigafactory/
