February 1st, 2021. Microvast, Inc., one of the world's leading manufacturers of lithium-ion battery cells, modules and battery packs, opens its brand new European Headquarter in Ludwigsfelde near Berlin on February 1st, 2021.
While the team is partially constrained to working at home due to the current coronavirus-related regulation in the federal state of Brandenburg, Germany, part of the teams are preparing for the production kick-off at the German plant. Sascha Kelterborn, Senior VP Sales & Marketing Western Globe, Microvast, Inc., is delighted to witness the timely completion and commissioning of the plant: "Anyone who has ever engaged in corporate relocation and the setup of a production facility would know how challenging these tasks are even in normal times. Our employees and service partners have done truly an exceptional job under the current pandemic circumstances. I am very grateful for their hard work."
As the team officially settles down in the new plant in Ludwigsfelde, the move from its previous office in Frankfurt am Main is finally concluded. 43 employees will start working in their new office building covering a space of 3,400 square meters as soon as the situation permits. The production of the battery modules will also commence on time in the Q1 2021. At the initial phase, up to 1.5 GWh of battery modules will be manufactured at the 36,000-square-meter premise. At the final stage, the factory can accommodate 250 employees and generate an output of up to 6 GWh. During the ramp-up phase, 500,000 battery modules will be assembled on the approximately 100-meter-long production line. The 10,500 square meter production hall will host one of the world's first modular production lines for the assembly of battery modules, which is newly designed and made by Thyssenkrupp. Next to the hall is a 5,300-square-meter warehouse, where the battery components are stored, and subsequent distribution takes place.
Production starts after only two years of development
The production premises, which was completed in just two years after concept design, is conveniently located with direct access to the B101 Ludwigsfelde East highway and the Berlin metropolitan area.
In February 2019, Microvast decided to select this location in the Industrial Park 4.0 Eichspitze Ludwigsfelde after an intensive site scouting. Eight months later, a long-term lease was signed between Microvast and IntReal KVG mbH to kick off the project and in the following month the relocation plan was announced at the city town hall. On March 3rd, 2020, Panattoni Germany Properties GmbH, the nominated real estate developer, received the building permit from the district bureau of Teltow-Fläming and started the construction work already 14 days later. After merely four months, Microvast already had its topping-out ceremony. One month before Christmas, the equipment provider Thyssenkrupp began to install the production line at the new plant in Ludwigsfelde. Then finally on January 13th, 2021, the approval of the plant was granted by the building authority. Microvast is now ready to launch its European Central Plant right on schedule on February 1st.