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EV Battery Maker Northvolt to Cut Jobs, Delays Factory in Canada
EV Battery maker Northvolt has announced there would be a revised timeline for plant in Canada but did not provide further details. Potential revisions to these projects would be confirmed in the fall.
Northvolt will cut a large number of jobs and sell or seek partners for its energy storage and materials businesses as Europe’s leading battery hope aims to survive by refocusing on its struggling first giga-factory in northern Sweden.
The Swedish manufacturer, which has raised the most capital at US$15 billion of any other unlisted European start-up, has been significantly delayed by issues at its facility located just below the Arctic Circle. Additionally, European carmakers have slowed their plans to transition to electric vehicles.
Northvolt announced on Monday that it would cease production of cathode active materials, sell one site, and instead source materials from Chinese or Korean companies. Additionally, the company will pursue a buyer or partner for its energy storage business, which is located in Gdańsk, Poland.
The group, which is supported by Volkswagen AG, Goldman Sachs, BMW, Siemens, and BlackRock, has been experiencing a cash flow deficit. It has announced that its cost-cutting strategy will “regrettably” involve “some difficult decisions on the size of our workforce,” which is currently at 7,000 employees.
Northvolt EV Battery facility in Vasteras, Sweden – Reuters Image
In addition, executives have stated that the construction of three additional gigafactories, which are to be constructed in Sweden, Germany, and Canada in a joint venture with Volvo Cars, will be postponed. However, they have also stated that they will provide additional information regarding the number of employment cuts at a later date.
In late 2021, Northvolt was the first European company to produce a EV battery cell for EVs from a domestic giga-factory. However, the company has encountered difficulty in increasing production rates since then. Its giga-factory in Skellefteå has an annual capacity of 16 gigawatt hours; however, it is currently producing less than 1GWh.
BMW recently terminated a US$2 billion contract with Northvolt and instead awarded it to Samsung SDI of Korea, citing supply constraints. The slow adoption of electric vehicles has resulted in the postponement of the construction of battery facilities in Europe by Korean and Chinese organisations.
Northvolt has also encountered financial difficulties vital for the expansion of production so consequently, the company has been compelled to reduce investments and expenditures.
Northvolt, which initiated its strategic review in July, intends to concentrate on cell manufacturing in Skellefteå, which has prompted concerns regarding the future of its recycling and materials operations.
It is also deliberating on how to proceed with the significant advancement in EV battery technology for energy storage that it announced with sodium-ion batteries. These batteries do not require lithium, cobalt, or nickel, which are materials that companies have been eager to acquire.
Executives stated that Northvolt could continue to advance the sodium-ion technology in collaboration with other manufacturers, despite its pursuit of purchasers or partners for its energy storage business.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau bragged the project will help build the economy – CBC Image
Northvolt declared this year that it would establish an electric vehicle battery plant in the Quebec province of Canada for C$7 billion, or $5.17 billion. The EV Battery Manufacturer stated that the federal and provincial governments of Canada would each provide $1 billion towards the first phase of construction.
Northvolt has received investments of approximately US $1.1 billion from Canadian pension funds, including Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (IMCO), BlackRock, and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) and CDPQ.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada has established EV manufacturing as a cornerstone of his industrial policy, providing production credits and other forms of assistance to 13 battery businesses and automakers valued at C$56 billion ($41.34 billion).
Nevertheless, a slowdown in the demand for electric vehicles has forced a number of industry players to postpone or cancel investments reaching C$46 billion ($33.96 billion).
billion).
Nevertheless, the development of EV demand has slowed, resulting in the cancellation or postponement of investments totalling C$46 billion ($33.96 billion) by numerous industry companies.
