Battery cell manufacturer CustomCells files for insolvency
The German battery cell manufacturer CustomCells has filed for insolvency proceedings to be opened for the Group’s main operating companies in Itzehoe and Tübingen. The holding company of the CustomCells Group is not affected by the insolvency application at this time.
The background to the financial difficulties at CustomCells is the insolvency of the aviation company Lilium, CustomCells’ largest customer. Business operations at CustomCells can continue until further notice. Employees’ wages and salaries are secured up to and including June 2025. A new investor process is being prepared in parallel with the stabilisation of the ongoing business.
This means that one of the pioneers of battery cell development in Germany has gone bankrupt. Founded back in 2012 as a spin-off of the German Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, CustomCells set up battery sites in Itzehoe and Tübingen. Today, more than 200 people are employed at CustomCells – and they now have to fear for their jobs. They have already been informed about the insolvency application and the next steps in the provisional insolvency proceedings at a staff meeting.
“This decision was not made lightly. Despite our best efforts, outstanding products, and strong business development, we are forced to take this step due to external factors beyond our control,” says Dirk Abendroth, CEO of CustomCells. “Our focus is now on maintaining operations as best as possible and creating a viable path forward for the company. We are grateful to our employees, customers, investors, and partners for their trust and support during this challenging time.”
Business operations at CustomCells can continue until further notice. The wages and salaries of the employees are secured up to and including June 2025. Parallel to the stabilisation of the current business, the search for new investors is being prepared.
CustomCells has positioned itself as a specialised supplier of particularly high-quality batteries: The company develops and manufactures cells specialised for various applications with high power and energy density for market segments that are not served by the large Asian volume manufacturers. These include the areas of agricultural technology, premium automotive engineering, motorsport, e-aviation, defence technology and the off-road segment in general, such as heavy-duty, mining and maritime applications.
CustomCells only moved into a new company headquarters in Itzehoe at the beginning of 2024, which houses a research centre in addition to the administrative offices. At the time, CEO Abendroth described the site as “our laboratory for the future.” The plans were big, and with the success of major customer Lilium, the hopes for a rosy future might have materialised. But now the employees and investors are facing a turbulent summer.
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