Volvo Builds Fully Automatic Battery Module Factory in Ghent

Volvo battery factory in Ghent, Belgium. (photo: dock. volvogroup)

JAKARTA – The Swedish truck manufacturer Volvo Group announced on Wednesday, October 26 that its plant in Ghent in Belgium will start producing battery modules in 2025.

“We have started the investment process to build a battery module manufacturer in Ghent. The building is estimated at 12,000 m2 and is located on the site of the Volvo Group plant. The new high-tech module factory will consist of an almost fully automated process with robots. This means that employees with the required competencies will be recruited, both externally and by building on our internal competencies,” said Jens Holtinger, Executive Vice President Group Trucks Operations, in a statement on the Volvo blog.

"The investment decision to install battery module manufacturing capacity in Ghent is another important step for the Volvo Group to shape the future value chain for battery systems," added Holtinger.

News! We have started the investment process to establish battery module manufacturing in Ghent. The building is expected to be 12,000 m2 and be located at the Volvo Group manufacturing site. Read more: https://t.co/Iurtbfict0 pic.twitter.com/KEcDgcnxyw

— Volvo Group (@VolvoGroup) October 26, 2022

The new production line will be able to use battery cells from both partners and from a planned battery cell plant in Sweden, the Volvo Group added.

The process of building this battery factory itself has already begun, and that the investment framework for the first step of manufacturing the modules is 75 million euros (IDR 1.1 trillion). “The new 12,000 square meter facility will be almost completely automated,” says Volvo.

The Volvo Group has ambitions that at least 35% of vehicles sold will be electric by 2030. Its plant in Gothenburg in Sweden builds heavy-duty electric trucks, and the Ghent truck factory will start doing so as well next year.