Northvolt wants to produce in Germany

The battery start-up, which is best known for its collaboration with Volkswagen, wants to set up production here in Germany. But there is a problem.

The Swedish start-up Northvolt is moving to Germany. As the responsible Northvolt boss Peter Carlsson told Automobilwoche, they are in talks with several German states about the possibility of setting up a factory in Germany. Besides Tesla, this would be the second start-up from the electric car and battery sector to come to Germany within a very short time. Carlsson himself used to be with Tesla.

In the interview he obviously did not want to reveal more than the talks. They are still in an early phase. One problem in particular is causing the start-up problems: the high cost of electricity. In Sweden, these are reduced thanks to hydroelectric power, which is not possible in Germany. "We are currently investigating how we can solve this problem," Carlsson tells Automobilwoche.

At its main plant in Skellefteå, Carlsson can rely on cheap, sustainable electricity. The plant there is to be continuously expanded until 2025. Two-thirds of the capacity will then be reserved for VW so that the carmaker can meet the targets for its electric car offensive. However, the plant in Germany is initially independent of the cooperation partner Volkswagen.