Gotion High-Tech mass-producing VW standard cells
According to the CN EV Post, citing an official statement, Gotion High-Tech has begun manufacturing standard cells for the Volkswagen Group at its plant in Hefei, China (Unified Cell Project). The first units were handed over on 20 November during a ceremony in Hefei, China, to Volkswagen CTO Thomas Schmall and Frank Blome, CEO of Volkswagen’s battery subsidiary PowerCo.
Gotion manufactures standard cells with LFP and other chemistries for Volkswagen and its brands. According to previous statements by Gotion, the newly built plant in Hefei has an annual production capacity of 20 GWh. Gotion will supply Volkswagen with standard cells between 2026 and 2032 in accordance with the current contractual agreements. While the two companies state that Gotion will be building on the supply of standardised cells to Volkswagen, the two companies do not elaborate further on specific batteries, models or brands.
In 2021, it was announced that a Gotion subsidiary is building a battery factory in the city of Hefei in Anhui province to build LFP cells in Volkswagen’s unit cell format. Hefei is also the headquarters of Volkswagen Anhui, the former joint venture with JAC. Anhui is also where MEB electric cars are built, including the Cupra Tavascan for Europe and the rest of the world.
In 2023, it was announced that the Gotion subsidiary, Hefei Gotion High-tech Power Energy Co Ltd., had received a procurement order from Volkswagen, which, according to Chinese media reports, ‘makes the company a designated supplier for the car manufacturer’s overseas markets’. Gotion will therefore not only supply cells to Volkswagen’s Chinese production facilities, but also export them to other countries. The agreed purchase quantities between the two companies have not been made public.
VW unveiled the unit cell in March 2021 as part of its ‘Power Day’. It is a prismatic battery cell which, with its uniform format, is to be used in 80 per cent of all the group’s electric cars by 2030. In order to meet the different requirements of the vehicle segments, the unit cell can be equipped with different cell chemistries: for example, LFP cells for small vehicles, NCM cathodes with a high nickel content for premium models and even solid-state batteries are to be possible.
This article was published by Cora Werwiitzke for electrive’s German edition
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