(refiling with corrections to the text)
The inauguration by ACC (Automotive
Cells Company) of a gigafactory in northern France is a great
European project that anticipates the future, car maker
Stellantis Chairman John Elkann said on Tuesday.
"Here we are in the future, it is a great European project,"
said Elkann at the inauguration of the first European
gigafactory to be built by ACC, a joint venture of Stellantis,
TotalEnergies and Mercedes, in Billy-Berclau near Douvrin.
The plant is part of a project worth 7 billion euros to build
three car battery manufacturing plants in France, Germany and
Italy to support the growing production of electric vehicle and
the transition to sustainable mobility.
The project is also expected to create 6,000 jobs.
"This is the first concrete materialization of an extraordinary
but difficult project that contributes to saving the planet,
reindustrialization and reclaiming sovereignty in order to be
independent in battery production," said ACC CEO Yann Vincent.
"We are beginning a new phase, thanks in part to the quality of
the collaboration between three major States that have
accompanied us in this project," said Stellantis CEO Carlos
Tavares.
"It is a Darwinian transformation," he continued.
"We will contribute to the project to produce 23% of battery
cells in Europe," said Tavares, adding that Stellantis is set to
launch 65 new electric models by 2030, "an industrial
challenge".
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