Europe’s leading battery manufacturers, ACC, Verkor, and PowerCo, have requested urgent support from European Union officials amid production challenges and increasing global competition. The companies announced that their situation is critical ahead of their meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on September 12.

Europe’s battery manufacturers seek support

Chief executives from Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, and Total-owned ACC, Renault-owned Verkor, and Volkswagen-owned PowerCo emphasized that without urgent and targeted support for local production, Europe could lose its independence in this vital technology.

Batteries are central to both the future of Europe’s automotive sector and the transition to zero-emission mobility. Today, 99% of batteries worldwide are produced by companies outside Europe. This leaves the European automotive industry, which employs more than 13 million people and is worth €800 billion, dependent on Asia.

At a time when the US and China are offering significant incentives for local production, European manufacturers remain stuck in the scaling-up phase and face the risk of falling behind the competition. According to company statements, inaction will result in wasted investments in the European battery value chain, a €250 billion market will shift to Asian imports, and the automotive sector will face strategic vulnerability.

The European Commission allocated €3 billion as part of the emergency support plan announced in March and distributed the first tranche of €852 million in July. However, companies say this support is insufficient to meet their targets.