TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné has raised concerns over the expansion of the European battery joint venture Automotive Cells Company (ACC), arguing that efforts should be concentrated on its current factory in France rather than pursuing additional plants in Germany and Italy.
In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), Pouyanné stated, “From my point of view as an industry representative, it is better to concentrate efforts on one plant than three.” He emphasized that TotalEnergies’ priorities lie with the existing factory in Billy-Berclau, noting that building a second facility is risky when the first is not yet fully operational. “TotalEnergies will concentrate on France,” he added.
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The comments are controversial, as TotalEnergies holds a 25% stake in ACC through its subsidiary Saft, while Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis own 30% and 45%, respectively. While Pouyanné favors focusing on France, the two larger partners are keen to move forward with plans for battery production at sites in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and Termoli, Italy, driven in part by political considerations. The FAZ article suggests that Pouyanné’s skepticism could jeopardize the future of ACC’s planned plants in Germany, casting doubt on whether production will proceed in Kaiserslautern.
ACC has been producing battery cells at its Billy-Berclau and Douvrin sites for over a year, supplying Stellantis models, but the ramp-up has faced challenges. A second production line is expected to open in 2025. Pouyanné acknowledged the complexity of battery production, warning that it required significant expertise and should not be approached like traditional car manufacturing. “These are not just robots that you use like in a car factory,” he said.
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In response to market conditions, ACC has paused plans for the Kaiserslautern and Termoli factories, waiting to assess demand and adjust cell chemistry strategies. While there have been rumors about a potential supply of luxury Mercedes models from Kaiserslautern, ACC has dismissed these as “unfounded.”