China’s Envision aims to build a new EV battery factory in France by late 2023

Chinese renewable energy group Envision is now eyeing France to build a battery factory to cater to the growing electric vehicle market, according to the news reported by French newspaper Journal du Dimanche (JDD) on Sunday, September 13.

The company, which has battery production plants in Japan, Britain, China, and the United States, has identified a dozen potential locations in France for the future factory. Quoting Sylvie Ourdiel, an international director at Envision, the French newspaper reported that Envision group planned to invest hundreds of million euros in a new factory expecting it to open in late 2023 and eventually create around a thousand jobs.

Sylvie Ourdiel said Britain’s exit from the European Union changed the landscape and that an extra plant needed to supply countries like France and Spain. However, she did not specify France as the planned location for the new factory. Even the company remained mute on a request for comment.

Envision made a debut in the electric vehicle battery market by acquiring AESC from Japanese car maker Nissan Motor Co two years ago.

In France, energy major Total and automaker Peugeot are also planning to develop an electric vehicle battery production forming a joint venture company.

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