The Slovak government and the Slovak-Chinese company GIB sign a deal on Wednesday, November 22, 2023. (source: Government Office)
Gotion InoBat Batteries (GIB), a firm established by the Slovak firm InoBat and the Chinese firm Gotion High-Tech, will build the first battery plant in Slovakia.
The government announced the investment on Thursday.
Šurany, a town in the Nitra Region, and its local industrial park, will become home to the new factory producing batteries for electric vehicles.
Initially, the Volkswagen concern was said to be considering the construction of a battery plant in Šurany or elsewhere in central Europe. Earlier this month, Czech PM Petr Fiala said that the company put its plan on hold due to the low sales of electric cars.
Slovakia will provide subsidies
The construction of the GIB plant should start next year.
Slovakia will provide land, subsidies and connection to the electric grid. The Nitra Region is home to a Jaguar Land Rover car plant, which plans to produce the first e-cars by the end of the decade.
“With the support of the Slovak government, Gotion has the ambition of building the most advanced battery factory with a zero carbon footprint not only in Europe, but even on the global level,” said the Chinese company’s board member Li Zhen on November 22.
The full launching of battery production is expected in 2026. About 1,500 workers should find a job at the plant.
Zhen added that he hopes Slovakia will not only be the world leader in the production of cars per capita, but also in the production of batteries per capita in the future.
The plant’s production capacity will be 20 gigawatt hours in the first phase, with future potential to reach a capacity of up to 40 gigawatt hours, the government added.
Shining on the tech map
The Economy Ministry did not disclose the amount of the investment.
It noted that Slovakia has the opportunity to “shine again on the map of countries with technologically advanced industry” thanks to the successful Slovak firm.
“Our government is the guarantor of a stable and predictable political and legal environment, as well as the guarantor of professionalism in managing the country,” said PM Robert Fico of the ruling Smer party.
The Slovak Battery Alliance has also welcomed the signing of the agreement between Slovakia and the Slovak-Chinese firm.
“A large number of Slovak companies can benefit from the giga factory,” said the alliance’s chair Andrea Straková Fedorková.
Gotion High-Tech is one of the top 3 global battery conglomerates and the exclusive supplier for Volkswagen (VW) outside of China. VW also owns a 24.77 percent stake in Gotion High-Tech and is the company’s largest shareholder.
