LG Energy Solution and GO Enerji to build battery factory in Ankara

South Korean battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution and Turkish energy company GO Enerji have agreed to jointly establish a production facility for battery packs in the Turkish capital, Ankara. These battery packs will be used in electric vehicles and stationary applications.

The factory is scheduled to open as early as the second quarter of 2026 and will initially operate with a production capacity of 2.5 gigawatt-hours (GWh). Within two years, the facility’s capacity is expected to increase to 7.5 GWh. Battery packs, which integrate multiple battery cells into a single system, will be the primary focus. Initially, 100 jobs will be created, with employment expected to grow to 900 positions over time.

The initial investment for battery pack assembly totals 45 million euros, with long-term investments projected to exceed one billion euros. Gökhan Yıldız, Chairman of GO Enerji, highlighted at a press conference that the factory will operate under the ‘Made in Türkiye’ label, serving both domestic demand and LG Energy Solution’s global customers. This includes exports to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Yıldız noted that the initiative aims to reduce reliance on imported battery technologies and position Turkey as an international hub for energy system production. Meanwhile, Turkey is actively fostering an ecosystem for electric vehicle manufacturing: the Ford e-Transit, the Ford e-Transit Custom, and the electric VW T7 are already being produced in the country, alongside domestic Togg vehicles. BYD also plans to manufacture electric vehicles in Turkey soon, and Hyundai will follow suit.

Beyond the production facility, the partners intend to establish a research and development centre. This centre will drive local innovation and talent in battery technologies, potentially paving the way for future battery cell production, according to Yıldız. It will also bolster Turkey’s standing in the high-tech sector and support workforce development in advanced energy storage solutions.

The agreement marks LG Energy Solution’s return to Turkey following the cancellation of a previously planned joint venture with Ford Otosan. This earlier initiative, which aimed to produce battery cells in Ankara, was abandoned in early 2023 due to concerns about the pace of electromobility adoption.

Founded in 2003, GO Enerji is a Turkish energy company specialising in the installation of large-scale photovoltaic systems. Through its partnership with LG Energy Solution, it now aims to expand into stationary battery storage solutions. The company offers comprehensive services, from planning and procurement to installation and maintenance, catering to both national and international markets.

turkiyetoday.com, analizgazetesi.com.tr (in Turkish)

This article was first published by Cora Werwitzke for electrive’s German edition.