Heide, Germany — Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt has begun construction of a massive electric vehicle (EV) battery gigafactory in Heide, Germany. The €4.5 billion ($4.9 billion) facility, named Northvolt Drei, marks a significant milestone for both the company and the region, promising to create thousands of jobs and establish a major hub for sustainable battery production in Europe.
Germany’s politicians joined Northvolt executives and employees, as well as representatives for local communities, for the start of construction of the battery gigafactory Northvolt Drei.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck and Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein Daniel Günther, together with Northvolt CEO and Co-Founder Peter Carlsson and Northvolt Drei CEO Christofer Haux, started piling machinery at the industrial site outside the city of Heide, district of Dithmarschen, in Northern Germany.
Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany commented: “Investments such as that of Northvolt are of strategic importance for our country and for Europe. Germany was, is, and will remain a country with a strong manufacturing base. And the production of good cars beyond the combustion engine continues to form the backbone of our industrial sector. For that, we need battery cells made in Germany, made in Europe. It is therefore good news for our entire country that, here in the north, battery cells produced in a climate-friendly way will be manufactured for one million cars a year in the future.”
The gigafactory will utilize the renewable energy from wind power accessible in the region known to host Germany’s first wind park. This endeavor aligns with Northvolt’s mission to mass produce the world’s greenest batteries for the automotive, industrial, and energy sectors. The industrial complex is planned to employ roughly 3000 people with a maximum annual production capacity of 60 GWh, commencing first operations in 2026.
Peter Carlsson, CEO and Co-Founder of Northvolt commented: “It’s great to get this show on the road. We are deeply grateful for the support from customers, investors and public stakeholders to create this flagship project for the global climate transition. Heide feels like home to us – and if you’re looking for a mission that’s more than a job, in the region with the highest quality of life in Germany, come join us.”
Northvolt strives to construct the most environmentally friendly batteries in sustainable facilities, aiming for a beneficial influence on nearby communities. The company holds monthly hearings with local stakeholders in Dithmarschen. Moreover, they have invited local leaders to Northvolt Ett in Skellefteå, Sweden. The aim is to gain learnings from a community that has seen a very strong economic and social development from the gigafactory establishment. Recent polling indicates that 80% of local community members are supportive as hiring for the Northvolt Drei gigafactory commences.
Christofer Haux, CEO of Northvolt Germany commented: “I am incredibly proud of my team that has shown such passion for this factory, from the first site selection talks two years ago, through all the planning and designing, to this day. And now the real work begins. I also want to thank the people of Dithmarschen. Germany is experiencing an unprecedented event as a large-scale industrial project on 110 hectares receives overwhelming support from locals.”
