Stellantis, TotalEnergies and Mercedes-Benz have reached an agreement, welcoming Mercedes-Benz as a new partner in the Automotive Cells Company (ACC). With this development, the parties agreed to increase ACC's industrial capacity to at least 120 GWh by 2030. The implementation of the agreement is subject to final regulations and legal approvals.
ACC is the result of an initiative taken by Stellantis and TotalEnergies with the support of the French, German and European authorities to create a leading European company for electric vehicle batteries. The inclusion of Mercedes-Benz in ACC is a clear demonstration of the evolution of the project and its results, which are now being further strengthened.
ACC's mission is to develop and produce battery components for electric vehicles, with a focus on safety, performance and competitiveness, while ensuring the highest levels of quality and the lowest possible environmental footprint. The revised capacity plan will mobilise an investment of more than €7 billion. The creation of this European battery colossus will support Europe in meeting the challenges of the energy transition in transport and ensure the availability of a key component for the electric vehicle industry.
ACC will be supported by the three companies combining:
- High knowledge in battery development through Saft, a TotalEnergies company with more than 100 years of experience in the field.
- A leader in the mobility sector such as Stellantis, which has a clear vision to offer cutting-edge technologies that will lead to attractive, affordable and sustainable ways of driving.
- Mercedes-Benz's knowledge in the fields of research and development, but also the expansion of the ACC production facilities, with the brand's unquestionable quality standards.
"Having Mercedes-Benz with us is a milestone for ACC," said Mr. Yann Vincent, CEO of ACC. "Mercedes-Benz will bring a vote of confidence in our technological progress and the competitiveness of our products, which will significantly strengthen ACC's business dynamics and support our ambitious growth plan. This is our contribution to an electric and sustainable future."
"Mercedes-Benz is pursuing a very ambitious change plan and this investment marks a milestone on our path to CO2. Together with ACC we will develop efficient battery components in Europe that meet the requirements of Mercedes-Benz," said Mr. Ola Källenius, CEO of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG. "This new partnership allows us to secure supply, take advantage of economies of scale and offer our customers leading battery technology. In addition, we can help keep Europe at the centre of the automotive industry, even in the electric age. With Mercedes-Benz, ACC aims to double its capacity in Europe's factories and support the competitiveness of the European industry in the design and production of battery components."
"We welcome Mercedes-Benz as a strategic partner that shares our ambition to accelerate ACC's leadership," said Mr. Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis. "Stellantis' electrification strategy is in full swing and today's announcement is the next step in our plan to be at the forefront of the automotive industry with our 14 brands committed to providing the best electrification solutions for our discerning customers. This partnership builds on technical knowledge and advanced manufacturing methods and ensures that Stellantis is leading the way in a more efficient, affordable and sustainable era."
"We are very pleased to welcome Mercedes-Benz as a new partner of ACC. This demonstrates the importance of the initiative we took a year ago with Stellantis and supports our ambition to create a European leader in batteries. Together we are bringing our knowledge and experience to a more sustainable automotive industry. This new step is another example of TotalEnergies' transformation into a broad energy company and its willingness to expand into electrification. TotalEnergies will leverage the battery expertise of its subsidiary Saft and the industrial knowledge of its partners in electric vehicles," said Mr. Patrick Pouyanné, President and CEO of TotalEnergy.
