Groupe PSA and Total have teamed up to create the Automotive Cells Company (ACC) , a joint venture dedicated to the manufacture of batteries in Europe.
ACC's main objective is to be a reference in the development and manufacture of batteries for the automotive industry, and its activity is expected to start in 2023.
The Groupe PSA e Total project has the following objectives:
- Respond to the challenges of energy transition. Reduce the environmental footprint of vehicles throughout their value chain, providing citizens with clean and accessible mobility;
- Produce batteries for electric vehicles (EV) that will be at the best technological level. Energy performance, autonomy, charging time and carbon footprint will be the characteristics addressed;
- Develop production capacity. To support the growing demand for EV, this is an essential point. This in a European market estimated at 400 GWh of batteries, by 2030 (15x more than the current market);
- Ensure European industrial independence. Both in terms of design and in terms of battery manufacturing, with a capacity of 8 GWh initially planned, with the aim of reaching an accumulated capacity of 48 GWh in factories by 2030. This development will correspond to the production of one million EV/ year (more than 10% of the European market);
- Position this joint venture as a competitive player in the market in order to supply EV builders.
To make the partnership work, Total will contribute with its experience in Research & Development and Industrialization. Groupe PSA will bring its knowledge of the automotive and mass production market to the table.
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ACC received financial support from the French and German governments, totaling 1.3 billion euros , in addition to having received the endorsement of the European institutions through an IPCEI project.
Carlos Tavares, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Groupe PSA, says that the creation of a European battery consortium was something the group wanted and that, now being a reality, it is in line with the group's “reason for being”: to provide clean, safe and accessible mobility for citizens. The head of the French group also says that ACC “guarantees Groupe PSA a competitive advantage in a context of growing sale of electric vehicles”.
Patrick Pouyanné, President and CEO of Total, adds that the creation of ACC “demonstrates Total's commitment to facing the challenge of climate change and developing itself as a multi-energy group, one of the main players in the energy transition, which continues to provide its customers with safe, economical and clean energy”.
To lead the ACC, Yann Vincent and Ghislain Lescuyer assume the role of Managing Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors, respectively.
Consult Fleet Magazine for more articles on the automotive market.