Automotive Cells Company welcomes Mercedes-Benz and plans third factory for Italy
- Mercedes-Benz to become an equal shareholder of ACC along with Stellantis and TotalEnergies / Saft, each with 1/3 equity stake.
- ACC intends to invest in Italy to build a 3rd cell manufacturing plant in Termoli.
- Mercedes-Benz to provide technology and production know-how to ACC.
- Partners to accelerate ACCs development with an objective of at least 120 GWh of cell capacity by 2030.
- The production capacity of the French and German plants will be increased to 40 GWh from 24 GWh per plant.
Paris, March 23, 2022 – Stellantis, TotalEnergies / Saft and Mercedes-Benz have finalized the agreement to welcome Mercedes-Benz as a new, equal partner of Automotive Cells Company (ACC). The partners have committed to increase ACC’s industrial capacity to at least 120 GWh by 2030. By then, its French (Billy-Berclau/Douvrin) and German (Kaiserslautern) plants will each be able to produce at least 40 GWh per year against the 24 GWh initially planned.
In addition, ACC's industrial footprint would be enriched by a third production site in Termoli, Italy. A Memorandum of Understanding between ACC and the Italian authorities was signed on March 21st to formalize the willingness of shareholders to invest in Italy, and of Italian authorities to support that investment.
The new Shareholder Agreement is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.
Yann Vincent, ACC's CEO said: 'We are delighted to welcome Mercedes-Benz as a new partner of ACC. This demonstrates the credibility of the initiative taken a year ago by TotalEnergies / Saft and Stellantis and clearly supports our ambition to be an innovative European battery player. This is a fundamental step for ACC. After only 18 months of existence, ACC is on track with both its R&D center in Bordeaux and its pilot site in Nersac already operational. The arrival of Mercedes-Benz brings a vote of confidence in our technological roadmap and in the competitiveness of our products, which significantly strengthens ACC's commercial potential and supports our ambitious growth plans'.
ACC was established by Stellantis and TotalEnergies / Saft and supported by the French, German, and European authorities, to create an innovative European battery player for electric vehicles. The entry of Mercedes-Benz in ACC is a clear demonstration of the industrial progress and of the merits of the project, which it will strengthen.
ACC’s purpose is to develop and produce battery cells and modules for electric vehicles with a focus on safety, performance, and competitiveness, while ensuring the highest level of quality and the lowest carbon footprint. The updated ACC capacity plan will mobilize an investment of more than seven billion euros.
ACC supports Europe to address the challenges of the energy transition in mobility and will ensure its security of supply of a key component for the electric car industry.
Upon closing, ACC will combine the strengths of a winning trio of partners:
- A deep technological expertise in battery development with Saft, an affiliate of TotalEnergies, which has more than 100 years of experience in the field of long-life batteries and battery systems.
- A leading global mobility player with Stellantis that has a clear mission to lead the way the world moves by delivering innovative, clean, safe, and affordable mobility solutions.
- The research and development expertise of Mercedes-Benz, along with its support to the expansion of ACC’s production facilities based on the brand’s benchmark quality standards.
About ACC
Automotive Cells Company (ACC) was founded in August 2020 and will combine the expertise of three major companies with complementary skills and experience. ACC's ambition is to become a European leader for car batteries that allow clean and efficient mobility for all. The R&D Center and testing facilities in Nouvelle-Aquitaine are just the beginning.
About Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz AG is responsible for the global business of Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans, with over 170,000 employees worldwide. The company focuses on the development, production and sales of passenger cars, vans and vehicle-related services. Furthermore, the company aspires to be the leader in the fields of electric mobility and vehicle software. Mercedes-Benz AG is one of the world's largest manufacturers of luxury passenger cars. In its two business segments, Mercedes-Benz AG is continually expanding its worldwide production network with around 35 production sites on four continents, while gearing itself to meet the requirements of electric mobility. At the same time, the company is constructing and extending its global battery production network on three continents.
About Saft
Saft specializes in advanced technology battery solutions for industry, from the design and development to the production, customization and service provision. For more than 100 years, Saft’s longer-lasting batteries and systems have provided critical safety applications, back-up power and propulsion for our customers. Our innovative, safe and reliable technology delivers high performance on land, at sea, in the air and in space. Saft is powering industry and smarter cities, while providing critical back-up functionality in remote and harsh environments from the Arctic Circle to the Sahara Desert.
Saft is a wholly owned subsidiary of TotalEnergies, a broad energy company that produces and markets fuels, natural gas and electricity.
#WeEnergizeTheWorld
About Stellantis
Stellantis N.V. (NYSE / MTA / Euronext Paris: STLA) is one of the world’s leading automakers and a mobility provider. Its storied and iconic brands embody the passion of their visionary founders and today’s customers in their innovative products and services, including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Jeep®, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Vauxhall, Free2move and Leasys. Powered by our diversity, we lead the way the world moves – aspiring to become the greatest sustainable mobility tech company, not the biggest, while creating added value for all stakeholders as well as the communities in which it operates.
About TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies is a broad energy company that produces and markets energies on a global scale: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our 105,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, sustainable, reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in more than 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people.
Contact ACC
Matthieu Hubert | +33 (0)6 88 05 16 26 | matthieu.hubert@acc-emotion.com
Contact Mercedes-Benz
Birgit Zaiser | birgit.zaiser@mercedes-benz.com
Contacts Saft
Elma Peters | +33 (0)7 63 46 06 47 | elma.peters@saftbatteries.com
Antoine Frenoy | +33 (0)6 77 26 39 69 | antoine.frenoy@saftbatteries.com
Contacts Stellantis
Fernão Silveira | +31 (0)6 43 25 43 41 | fernao.silveira@stellantis.com
Valerie Gillot | +33 (0)6 83 92 92 96 | valerie.gillot@stellantis.com
Contacts TotalEnergies
Media relations | +33 (0)1 47 44 46 99 | presse@totalenergies.com | @TotalEnergiesFR
Investor relations | +44 (0)207 719 7962 | ir@totalenergies.com