Battery production in Germany is a key issue in the context of the energy and mobility transition.
However, development has been bumpy: While some companies such as CATL are entering production, others like Tesla their plans or even put the brakes on them altogether.
Tesla, the US electric car manufacturer, had originally announced, to build the world's largest battery factory in Grünheide. However, the production of battery cells has been relocated to the USA for the time being. The reason for this is the tax breaks for battery production that apply there.
The Chinese battery manufacturer Svolt has also scaled back its ambitions in Germany. The construction of a battery cell factory in Lauchhammer has been put on hold. Svolt justifies this with "uncertainties in the automotive market" and "lost customer projects".
CATL, the largest battery manufacturer in the world, on the other hand, started series production at its factory at Erfurter Kreuz near Arnstadt in January 2023. The factory is expected to have a capacity of 14 GWh per year.
The long-established German battery manufacturer Varta continues to struggle with problems. The company is building a pilot production line for battery cells for electric cars, the future of battery production at Varta is still uncertain.
There are many reasons for the sluggish development of battery production in Germany: High energy costs, high energy costs, a lack of suppliers and strong competition from China all play a role.
Despite these challenges, there are also glimmers of hope: The energy transition and the mobility transition offer great opportunities for the industry. Politicians can promote battery production in Germany through various measures, z.B. through tax relief and the promotion of research and development.
It remains to be seen whether companies in Germany will be able to overcome the challenges and successfully establish battery production. The future of battery production in Germany is uncertain, but the chances are good, that it will play an important role in the energy and mobility transition.
