Stellantis and Samsung SDI launched a fast replace associated to their battery three way partnership in Kokomo, Indiana, the place the 2 companions are constructing a brand new lithium-ion cell manufacturing facility.

The primary milestone of the challenge is the elevating of the primary piece of metal that may kind the construction of the brand new gigafactory. The beam was signed by the three way partnership administration workforce and the Kokomo mayor.

If every thing progresses as deliberate, the brand new plant – introduced in Might 2022 – will begin producing EV batteries as quickly as within the first quarter of 2025.

The preliminary annual manufacturing capability is 23 gigawatt-hours (GWh), though there’s a plan to extend it within the subsequent few years (so earlier than 2030) to 33 GWh.

That may be sufficient to energy greater than 300,000 Stellantis all-electric automobiles (assuming 100 kilowatt-hours per battery pack).

The plant itself is a big challenge, which requires a $2.5 billion funding (with a possible of a gradual enhance as much as $3.1 billion), however not as large as a few of the different battery crops (typically $4-5 billion per website).

At this level, it isn’t clear what fashions (produced regionally in North America) will probably be powered by Samsung SDI’s battery cells.

It is price noting that Stellantis can be working with LG Vitality Answer on a fair greater challenge – a forty five GWh battery manufacturing facility in Canada, which will probably be launched one yr sooner than the manufacturing facility in Indiana – in Q1 2024 vs. Q1 2025.

In the meantime, Stellantis proceed to depend on exterior battery provider and prepares a number of battery factories (joint ventures) in Europe.

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Stellantis and Samsung SDI’s JV in short:

• three way partnership
• location: Kokomo, Indiana
• funding: $2.5 billion (€2.3 billion) initially
  might steadily enhance as much as $3.1 billion (€2.9 billion)
• building begin: late 2022
• manufacturing begin: H1 2025
• output: initially 23 GWh of lithium-ion battery cells and modules yearly with an goal to extend as much as 33 GWh/yr within the following years (doubtlessly extra, relying on demand)