ACC reaches 5 million battery cells produced at its French gigafactory

Automotive Cells Company (ACC) has produced its five millionth lithium-ion battery cell at its gigafactory in Billy-Berclau Douvrin, northern France. According to the company, batteries manufactured at the facility are already powering nearly 40,000 electric vehicles.

The milestone marks a further step in ACC’s industrial ramp-up, as the European battery manufacturer works to increase production volumes and establish a competitive regional supply chain.

Founded in 2020 and backed by Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz and Saft, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, ACC specialises in high-performance nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery cells and modules.

ACC accelerates battery production in France

The company reports substantial progress in scaling up its manufacturing operations over the past two years. The first production block at Billy-Berclau Douvrin now operates seven days a week, with five eight-hour shifts, while production scrap rates are gradually approaching their targets.

One particularly significant indicator of this acceleration is that module production in September 2026 alone nearly matched ACC’s total output for the whole of 2025. ACC currently supplies batteries for eight high-range electric vehicle models marketed by Stellantis brands, including Peugeot, Citroën, Opel, Jeep, DS and Lancia.

Meanwhile, a second production block with a capacity of 12.9 GWh is scheduled to begin operations in 2027, supplying batteries for Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles.

European battery manufacturing and competitiveness

Beyond the production milestone, ACC has reiterated the importance of strengthening Europe’s battery industry and reducing dependence on external supply chains.

The company is calling for European industrial policies capable of supporting demand for locally manufactured batteries, including the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act.

“Reaching 5 million cells produced in France is an important milestone for ACC and a clear demonstration of the progress achieved by our teams over the past years,” said Allan Swan, ACC CEO. “It shows that Europe can develop and industrialise advanced battery technologies at scale.”

However, Swan also stressed that competitiveness remains a major challenge, arguing that European manufacturers need conditions allowing them to compete on a level playing field.

For ACC, the next phase will therefore involve not only increasing manufacturing capacity, but also strengthening the economic competitiveness of batteries produced in Europe.