Chinese company builds mega-big battery factory in Erfurt

Lithium-ion battery used for car control device. Photo: Oldobelix at German Wikipedia

The Chinese CATL Group wants to build its new battery cells in a German state Thuringia near the city of Erfurt. BMW and Daimler will be the factory's customers. A lot of cobalt will be needed in the production facility. The investments are estimated to amount to several hundred million euros.

Speculation about the project has been going on for several weeks, and now the German state of Thuringia's federal government has confirmed plans for a battery factory.

- The plans include a new factory built by Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd. (CATL), said Thuringia Finance Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee (SPD). The purpose is to manufacture battery cells, which are used in the production of electric cars.

"The state has the opportunity to" become one of the most important European production centers for battery technology, "said Tiefensee.

His government expects the new plant to generate 1000 new jobs in the state of Thuringia.