Inobat Auto is looking at sites in the UK and Europe for its third battery Gigafactory.

This follows validation of its bespoke 622 and 811 battery cells as well as its fundamental proof of concept that cell chemistry can be specifically adapted to customer requirements. This has seen customers commit to the first 4GWh module of 32GWh capacity.

The company is completing its research and development centre and pilot plant in Slovakia with a plan for this to be operational in the beginning of 2023 with an initial 1GWh of capacity once complete in 2024. It has a development deal with Siemens for the manufacturing equipment.

The second plant is in Slovenia using battery technology from US supplier Wildcat. The UK currently has gigafactories announced alongside Nissan in Sunderland and BritishVolt in Northumberland, with plans for factories from AMTE Power and in the West Midlands.

• Battery gigafactory plans start in Slovenia

InoBat Auto has also recently opened its UK office at the University of Warwick Science Park.

“我很高兴地宣布,鉴于visibility of our offtake order book, Inobat Auto intend to locate our third gigafactory in Western Europe. Candidate sites include those in EU and UK with a decision to be taken within 2022,” said Dr Andy Palmer, newly appointed chair of the company. Palmer is previously chief operating officer of Nissan and President and Group CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda, and is Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Switch Mobility, which is building a plant in Spain to build a new electric bus for the European market. Phases two and three will add battery assembly capabilities and production of a commercial vehicle from 2024, which would be the timescale for the new Inobat plant.