The German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz is taking an equity stake of 33% in the European battery cell manufacturer Automotive Cells Company (ACC) together with Stellantis and TotalEnergies. At the same time, Mercedes-Benz provides technology and production know-how to ACC. Vice versa, ACC will supply Mercedes-Benz with high-performance battery technologies from its production locations from mid of the decade. The battery cell manufacturer is examining the expansion of its production network to include further locations in Europe.
Mercedes-Benz plans to be ready to go fully electric by the end of the decade. To reach its target, a total battery production capacity of more than 200 Gigawatt hours by the end of the decade is required. The car manufacturer plans to build eight cell factories worldwide together with partners. In this respect, the investment in ACC is the next step.
ACC was founded in 2020 and now combines the expertise of Stellantis, TotalEnergies and Mercedes-Benz. ACC’s goal is to become the European market leader for car battery cells and modules that allow clean and efficient mobility for all. The R&D center in Bordeaux (France) is operational and the pilot site in Nersac (France) will start production at the end of this year.
The entire ACC project will require an investment volume of more than seven billion euros – in a combination of equity, debt and subsidies – to reach a capacity of at least 120 Gigawatt hours in Europe by the end of the decade. Mercedes-Benz plans to invest a mid-three-digit-million euros amount next year. In total, the investments are expected to remain below one billion Euros.
