In Göttingen, a renowned university town in central Germany, the first locally-manufactured battery product officially rolled off the production line. This marked a milestone event for Gotion's inaugural battery production and operational base in Europe since Gotion Germany was established last year. Han Jun, the Secretary of the Anhui Provincial Party Committee, Stephan Weil, the Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, and Cong Wu, the Consul General of China in Hamburg, collectively witnessed this accomplishment. The official inauguration of the battery pack production line demonstrates that Gotion has achieved localized production and supply in Europe. The era of "Made in Germany" Gotion batteries has officially begun. On the same day, Gotion also inked cooperation agreements with several globally renowned corporations including BASF, ABB, Ebusco, and Ficosa.
"The automation level of the Göttingen factory line is exceptional, currently achieving an automation rate of over 70%, with the module process phase exceeding 80%," elaborated Chen Ruilin, Vice President of Gotion Hi-Tech's International Business Division. Klaus Gohde, the General Manager of the Göttingen factory, underscored the unified vision and actions of the Göttingen team in steering the factory's transition from the internal combustion engine sector to the battery business under the "One Gotion" strategy. Gotion Hi-Tech's CTO, Cai Yi, shared that the total capacity plan for the Göttingen factory is set at 20GWh, anticipated to be realized in four phases. Upon full completion, it's projected to achieve an annual output value of 2 billion euros.
Peter Willemsen, Chief Operating Officer of Gotion Global and General Manager of Gotion Germany, expressed that the spirit of Sino-European collaboration is crucial in the endeavor to "reinvigorate Europe with green vitality". Today marks the official start of production at the Göttingen factory's inaugural production line, and the facility has already garnered a slew of European orders. Deliveries to European clients are slated to commence from October. By mid-2024, the factory's actual capacity is expected to reach 5GWh. "The battery pack products from the factory are designed for commercial vehicles, energy storage systems, and passenger cars. Additionally, it will serve as Gotion's European base for R&D, logistics, and after-sales service."
The booming demand was evident during the day's signing ceremony. Gotion Hi-Tech promptly entered into agreements with five internationally acclaimed companies, with the collaborations spanning battery materials, product development, and supplies for vehicles and energy storage systems. Specifically, Gotion Hi-Tech will deepen its partnership with BASF China on battery material collaboration; align with the Swiss ABB Group on battery product supply and tech R&D, with ABB's automation products set to support Gotion's new facilities in Europe and the US; collaborate with Ebusco on energy storage battery system development, production, and renewable energy storage project development; and establish partnerships with Ficosa and Idneo on initiatives such as smart mobile energy storage charging vehicles, battery banks, battery recycling, BMS, and big data engineering.
Stephan Weil, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, remarked in his address: The longstanding 40-year collaboration between Lower Saxony and Anhui Province is unparalleled among similar initiatives. While traditionally the engine was the pivotal component for fuel-powered cars, the future of electric vehicles will hinge on batteries. Consequently, Bosch's handover of the Göttingen factory to Gotion carries profound significance. "I wish to express my gratitude to Bosch for its myriad contributions to Göttingen and Lower Saxony over the many past years. I'm equally thrilled that Gotion has now taken up the mantle," articulated Prime Minister Weil. Recognizing Gotion's distinguished reputation in the battery sector and originating from China's Anhui province, he highlighted the company's promising future prospects. With Volkswagen Group being Gotion's major shareholder and Lower Saxony standing as Germany's premier automotive state, Gotion's Göttingen factory project's advantage lies in its ability to produce power battery products to meet the expansive market demand in the coming decades. Weil voiced his optimism that Lower Saxony can leverage this to spur the automotive industry's transformation, a belief he holds firm.
Petra Broistedt, Mayor of Göttingen, Lower Saxony, conveyed her pride in witnessing the battery production line launch ceremony within the erstwhile Bosch factory premises. Viewing the state-of-the-art battery pack production line in operation marks a symbolic turning point. She expressed pride in welcoming Gotion's battery factory into Göttingen's community and was elated to see Gotion's collaborative endeavors with local academic institutions to propel joint R&D efforts, thereby bolstering the enterprise's research capabilities. "The optimal time to plant a tree was a decade ago, the next best time is now," she stated. The city of Göttingen is eager to collaborate with Gotion in seeking novel international cooperation avenues within the battery industry.
Michael Schumann, Chairman of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA), indicated that the workforce of Chinese enterprises in Germany has surpassed 100,000 and continues to grow. These companies play pivotal roles in spearheading key technological advancements for the future. By 2030, Germany envisions having a minimum of 15 million fully electric vehicles on its roads, but achieving this goal necessitates a significant journey ahead. "Gotion has made a lasting commitment to both Germany and Göttingen. I wish you every success. Notably, your pioneering endeavors will set a precedent. I anticipate more investors flocking to Germany, enriching the nation's stature as a hub for technology and commerce, and bolstering the amicable ties between the Chinese and German people."
