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Stellantis-backed ACC to broaden French gigafactory

Battery maker Automotive Cells Business (ACC) is set to sign a brand-new loan to fund the second production block of its gigafactory in northern France, a. business representative stated, as it increases output in spite of Europe's. slow electric car market.

The loan, guaranteed by ACC's 2 primary investors, automobile. makers Stellantis and Mercedes-Benz Group,. deserves around 1 billion euros ($ 1.05 billion), two sources. knowledgeable about the matter said, verifying a report by paper. Les Echos.

Stellantis and Mercedes did not react to ask for. comment. Smaller sized investor TotalEnergies decreased to. comment.

The factory already operates one production block, with a. optimum capacity of 15 GWh. The second block of 13 GWh is. already under building and construction.

The ramp-up of ACC's France factory comes despite slow. development of the EV market, which has actually led European peer Northvolt. to apply for bankruptcy last month and raised questions about. other battery plants being built in Europe.

ACC said on Tuesday it prepared to continue the ramp-up of. its plant in France making NMC batteries, following an. statement by Stellantis that it will construct a factory in Spain. with China's CATL to make batteries utilizing completing. LFP innovation.

NMC, with a higher energy density however more costly, is. suitable for larger, more high-end electrical lorries while LFP,. less dense but cheaper, is used in smaller sized automobiles. Both are. versions of lithium-ion.

ACC suspended plans for 2 other gigafactory projects in. Germany and Italy to reassess the battery innovation it will. usage and will lay out roadmaps for the plants in the first half. of 2025.

The building and construction of a third production block in France,. which would bring the total capacity of the website to 40 GWh, has. not yet been chosen, the spokesman said.

(source: Reuters)