Volkswagen subsidiary PowerCo has begun production of its Unified Cells at its first European gigafactory in Salzgitter, Germany. Initially, the cells are based on nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) chemistry and are currently being delivered to the groupʼs brands for vehicle testing. Series production is scheduled to begin in 2026 for models from the “Electric Urban Car” series by Volkswagen, Škoda, and Cupra. According to the company, PowerCo will cover around half of the groupʼs cell requirements in the long term. The Unified Cell is part of a standardized cell architecture to enable economies of scale and accommodate various chemistries, including lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and solid-state.
Expansion of a development center
During the initial expansion stage, the new plantʼs capacity will gradually increase to 20 gigawatt-hours per year. A subsequent doubling to 40 gigawatt-hours is planned. Highly automated processes are designed to ensure quality and efficiency through real-time data and AI-supported control. According to Volkswagen, the Salzgitter site will serve as a reference plant for future factories in Valencia and St. Thomas. Alongside production, a development center is being expanded in Salzgitter. A new test field is scheduled to open in early 2026.
