Author name: Cornelius Karow

Tesla plans to significantly expand battery cell production at its Grünheide facility near Berlin. According to the company, an additional $250 million will be invested to increase annual cell capacity to 18 gigawatt-hours. This more than doubles Tesla’s previous target of 8 gigawatt-hours, which was announced in December. As part of that announcement, Tesla had already promised to invest nearly one billion euros in the factory. The company says the expansion will also increase staffing needs. Tesla expects to have more than 1,500 employees in battery cell production alone. Tesla currently employs around 11,000 people in Grünheide. The plant is Tesla’s only Gigafactory in Europe. Nevertheless, battery cell production in Grünheide remains well below Elon Musk’s original plans. In 2020, Tesla announced plans to build the world’s largest battery cell factory in Berlin, with an initial annual capacity of 100 gigawatt-hours. A later expansion to up to 250 gigawatt-hours was also envisioned. However, the company halted these plans in 2022 after U.S. subsidy programs became more attractive. Greater Integration Planned Tesla is linking the expansion of cell production with greater vertical integration at the site. According to Tesla, battery cells and vehicles will be produced entirely in Grünheide starting in 2027. Tesla argues that this will increase the stability of European supply chains. At the same time, however, the company acknowledges the challenging economic landscape for cell production in Europe. Tesla claims that, in international competition with China and the U.S., the manufacture of battery cells is currently hardly economically viable. Sources:https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-invest-250-million-battery-plant-outside-berlin-2026-05-12/https://eletric-vehicles.com/tesla/tesla-more-than-doubles-berlin-battery-cell-output-target-to-18-gwh

As part of its strategic realignment, the German automaker Porsche AG plans to close several of its subsidiaries. This decision will include Cellforce Group GmbH in Kirchentellinsfurt. According to the company, Cellforce lacks “sufficiently viable prospects” within the context of Porsche’s future direction. Management is set to begin discussions with the works council regarding the closure. The closure will affect approximately 50 employees. Porsche cites a stronger focus on its core business as the reason for the decision. The Executive and Supervisory Boards have reportedly approved far-reaching measures to this end. In total, more than 500 jobs are expected to be cut across various subsidiaries. Porsche previously announced the sale of its stakes in Bugatti Rimac and the Rimac Group. Cellforce Loses Strategic Significance The Cellforce Group was considered a cornerstone of Porsche’s activities in the high-performance battery sector. However, Porsche now states that the subsidiary no longer has sufficient future prospects within the framework of a “technology-neutral” powertrain strategy. For the Kirchentellinsfurt site, this likely means the end of its current operations. E-bike and Software Subsidiaries Also Affected In addition to Cellforce, Porsche eBike Performance GmbH and Cetitec GmbH are set to be discontinued. The e-bike subsidiary developed and marketed drive systems. Cetitec GmbH developed software for data communication within the Volkswagen Group. Source:https://newsroom.porsche.com/de/2026/unternehmen/porsche-fokussierung-kerngeschaeft-42439.html

The Chinese battery manufacturer CATL plans to significantly increase its production capacity for sodium-ion batteries. According to a document released by environmental authorities in Ningde, China’s Fujian Province, annual production capacity is set to increase by 40 GWh. To this end, CATL intends to invest approximately 5 billion yuan, equivalent to around 735 million US dollars. The project will be implemented by CATL’s subsidiary, Fuding Shidai, and will operate independently of existing plants. Construction is expected to take 24 months. Plans include new facilities for battery cells, electrodes, capacity testing and modules, as well as additional infrastructure. Upon completion of the sixth expansion phase, the total planned capacity of the Fuding Shidai site is expected to reach 149 GWh. Major Order Accelerates Expansion of Sodium Technology This expansion follows a significant order in the stationary energy storage sector. At the end of April, CATL entered into a strategic partnership with the Chinese energy storage provider HyperStrong. This includes a supply contract for 60 GWh of sodium-ion batteries for energy storage over three years. According to CATL, this is the largest sodium battery order worldwide to date. CATL has been investing in the development of sodium-ion batteries for several years. Official figures show that research and development expenditure will total almost 10 billion yuan by the end of 2025. Source:https://cnevpost.com/2026/05/09/catl-plans-40-gwh-sodium-battery-capacity-expansion/

The Chinese battery manufacturer CATL has signed a significant agreement to supply sodium-ion batteries. Its partner is the Chinese energy storage provider HyperStrong. According to a company statement, the contract covers a volume of 60 gigawatt-hours over a three-year period. Currently, this is the largest known order for sodium-ion batteries. Major Order Signals Market Growth With this agreement, CATL is positioning itself in the growing stationary energy storage market. The company claims to have overcome technical challenges throughout the production chain, enabling large-scale deliveries. CATL reports that it has invested approximately 10 billion yuan (just under 1.5 billion USD) in sodium-ion technology development since 2016. The goal is to establish sodium-ion technology as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries, particularly for applications requiring longer storage durations. The current generation of cells uses a platform design identical in dimensions to lithium-ion cells. This is intended to reduce adaptation costs. CATL expects sodium-ion batteries to achieve a 30- to 40-percent market share in the long term. Source:https://cnevpost.com/2026/04/27/catl-secures-worlds-largest-sodium-ion-battery-order/

The South Korean battery manufacturer Samsung SDI has signed a multi-year supply agreement with Mercedes-Benz. Under the agreement, Samsung SDI will supply batteries for the next generation of Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles. According to Samsung SDI, this is the first such agreement between the two companies. No details regarding quantities or financial terms were disclosed. Focus on High-Nickel Batteries The agreement covers high-performance nickel-cobalt-manganese batteries with a high nickel content. Mercedes-Benz plans to use these batteries in future compact and mid-size electric SUVs, as well as coupé models.  Beyond the supply agreement, both companies intend to expand their cooperation. They plan to jointly develop new battery technologies. Specific projects or technical approaches were not disclosed. Samsung SDI views the contract as a step towards strengthening its market position in the global competition for electric vehicle batteries. Source:https://www.samsungsdi.com/sdi-now/sdi-news/4842.html?pageIndex=1&pagesize=15&idx=4842