Dr. Simon Engelke speaks with Yann Vincent, CEO of Automotive Cells Company (ACC) to explore the strategic vision and challenges of strengthening Europe's battery independence through sustainable manufacturing, regulatory navigation, and future expansion plans.
ACC is a European battery manufacturer backed by Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, and TotalEnergies. They build gigafactories to power Europe’s clean mobility shift and to strengthen the continent’s battery independence and industrial resilience.
What we cover in this episode:
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to ACC and the European Battery Landscape
02:58 Yann Vincent's Background and the Formation of ACC
05:26 Current Status and Future Plans of ACC
08:08 Yann's Personal Motivations for Transitioning from Automotive to Battery Cell Production
14:02 Challenges in Battery Cell Costs and Competition with China
16:49 The Importance of European Battery Supply Chains for the European Car Industry
18:11 How Europe Can Catch Up with China in Battery Cell Manufacturing
23:50 Tariffs vs. Subsidies as Regulatory Support
27:24 Competitive Advantages and Disadvantages of a Fully European Battery Material Supply Chain
30:06 Navigating Battery Chemistry and Market Trends
35:09 Balancing Manufacturing with R&D
36:37 Is Regulation a Competitive Advantage or a Burden? Sustainability in Battery Production
38:48 How the European Financing Ecosystem is Responding to the Battery Industry
46:09 Market Demand Dynamics and Future Expansion Plans
50:18 Thoughts on Expansion Approach
52:52 Similarities and Differences Between Battery Manufacturing and Car Manufacturing
54:32 Future Outlook for ACC and the Battery Market