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Even though gasoline and diesel powered cars continue to drive millions on our roads right now, in the longer term, electric cars will gain more and more market share. For these cars to drive, they need powerful batteries. A plant for the production of such batteries is now to be built in Thuringia. The Chinese company CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology) has apparently chosen the Erfurt Cross industrial area as the location of the new battery factory.
According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Thuringia, several hundred million euros are invested. Over the next few years, up to 1,000 jobs will be created. The batteries must be delivered to German car manufacturers. BMW has already signed a multi-billion contract with CATL. From Thuringia will next come the batteries for the next generation of BMW electric cars. Daimler should also be interested in purchasing batteries from CATL. Stuttgart wants to bring 2022 also several new electric cars on the market.
Thuringia and the leadership of CATL will sign what is called a project agreement on Monday afternoon in Berlin. As part of a meeting of the German-Chinese government. At the meeting, German Chancellor Angela Merkel will welcome Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who will travel with several ministers.
Further details on the investment should be given at 4:30 pm in the Thuringian State Representation in Berlin. The Minister of Economic Affairs of Thuringia, Wolfgang Tiefensee, welcomed the decision of CATL to visit Thuringia. The settlement is one of the largest investments of the last ten years in the free state. This gives Thuringia the opportunity to become one of the leading European sites for battery technologies.
The Thuringian Business Association badumes that it is a very good signal for the free state. Michael Militzer of the badociation "automotive thuringe" spoke – literally – of a hammer. Thuringia prevailed in the selection of locations. "The free state has won," says Militzer. In his opinion, the Chinese made a good choice with their location decision. All major German car factories are nearby and are well equipped with batteries. Battery production in China and subsequent transport to Germany in the opinion of Militzer would not be profitable for CATL.
The president of the badociation hopes that the Thuringian industry will benefit from the new factory. Free State auto suppliers could supply the factory with aluminum frames or plastic parts. Disappointed Militzer shows that the major German car manufacturers do not build a battery factory themselves. Now, they would become dependent on a Chinese manufacturer.
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