Automotive Cells Company (ACC), the battery cell joint venture backed by Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, and TotalEnergies, has appointed former Panasonic Energy executive Allan Swan as its new chief executive officer effective May 1, 2026.
Swan succeeds Yann Vincent, who is retiring after leading ACC since its founding by Stellantis and TotalEnergies and continuing in the role after Mercedes-Benz joined the venture.
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“Under Vincent’s leadership, ACC achieved major milestones, including the establishment of its first Gigafactory, the development of its proprietary battery technologies, and the creation of a strong European industrial ecosystem dedicated to electric mobility,” the company said in a statement.
Before joining ACC, Swan served as president of Panasonic Energy USA, where he oversaw the ramp-up of two battery gigafactories supplying Tesla. ACC said his experience in scaling industrial manufacturing operations would support the company’s next phase of development.
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Rather than expanding its factory footprint immediately, ACC is expected to focus on improving operations at its existing plant in Douvrin, France. The facility, which opened in 2023, has faced production challenges and has reportedly struggled to meet output targets due to high levels of manufacturing scrap.
The production issues have reportedly affected battery deliveries to Stellantis, with some vehicle models experiencing delivery lead times of up to eight months.
ACC has also halted plans for additional gigafactories in Germany and Italy. The company described committing to new large-scale battery plants in the current market environment as “totally irresponsible.”
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Alex Nediger, chairman of ACC’s board, said Swan’s appointment demonstrated the shareholders’ continued support for the company.
“His proven expertise in large-scale battery manufacturing and his leadership in fast-growing industrial environments will be instrumental as ACC continues to ramp-up its footprint and reinforce its position as Europe’s EV battery pioneer,” Nediger said. He also thanked Vincent for helping establish the company’s foundations.
Swan said he would focus on expanding ACC’s manufacturing capabilities and supporting Europe’s electric vehicle ambitions.
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“I am honoured by the trust placed in me by ACC’s shareholders and excited to join the company at such a pivotal moment for the EV industry,” Swan said. “Building on the strong foundation established by Yann Vincent, I look forward to working with ACC’s teams to accelerate growth, scale our manufacturing capabilities, and support Europe’s ambition for clean, competitive, and energy-independent mobility.”