News
December 11, 2025
Press release
Bourbourg (Dunkerque), December 11, 2025 – Under the high patronage of Mr Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, Verkor today inaugurates its first lithium-ion low-carbon battery cell gigafactory in Bourbourg (Dunkerque). This milestone marks the transition to large-scale industrial production, serving a sovereign and sustainable European battery industry.
With an initial capacity of 16 GWh/year, the gigafactory will meet the growing needs of decarbonized electric mobility. Its commissioning will enable the creation of 1,200 direct jobs and 3,000 indirect jobs, with the commercialization of the first batteries planned for 2026 for the Alpine A390. Verkor aims to reach 50 GWh by 2030 to establish itself as a reference player in Europe.
Two complementary sites to accelerate innovation
In two years, Verkor has validated a high-performance battery cell, industrialized its processes, and transferred its innovations from the Verkor Innovation Centre (VIC) in Grenoble to the Bourbourg Gigafactory. This complementarity confirms Verkor’s technological and organizational maturity.
The VIC designs and validates battery technologies, develops future chemistries and product platforms, while the Gigafactory pioneers large-scale industrialization.
From pilot to production: proof of industrial maturity
The VIC pilot line operates 24/7 and has produced tens of thousands of cells, guaranteeing process reliability and initial volumes for the customer. Process innovations have been integrated into the Gigafactory to optimize productivity and quality.
For several months, the Gigafactory has been assembling modules from VIC cells and is now manufacturing its own cells.
A digital factory designed for efficiency
Equipped with proprietary digital architecture, the Gigafactory optimizes the management of product, process, and material data, ensuring traceability and industrial performance.
A mobilized ecosystem
The event took place in the presence of government members, elected officials, and strategic partners, including the Minister of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity and International Climate and Nature Negotiations, Monique Barbut, the Deputy Minister to the Minister of Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty, responsible for Industry, Sébastien Martin, the President of the REV3 mission, delegate for economic transformation at the Hauts-de-France Regional Council, Frederic Motte, and the President of the Dunkerque Urban Community, Patrice Vergriete.
Since 2020, Verkor has secured over €3 billion to support the construction of this strategic site in Dunkerque (Hauts de France) and the development of the Verkor Innovation Centre in Grenoble. This achievement was made possible by a financial ecosystem combining leading public and private investors, a real asset for supporting the growth of green technologies.
Verkor is supported by leading industrial and financial players including Macquarie Asset Management, Meridiam, Renault Group, EQT Ventures, EIT InnoEnergy, Sibanye-Stillwater, the SPI investment fund (Société de projets industriels) created by Bpifrance, Crédit Agricole Assurances and the Strategic Participation Fund (FSP) operated by ISALT, PULSE, CMA CGM’s energy fund, Airbridge Investments, EnerSys, ING Sustainable Investments. The project also benefits from the support of a consortium of international banks, including ABN AMRO Bank, AEW, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, Banco Santander, Banque Populaire Auvergne Rhône Alpes, La Banque Postale, La Banque Postale, Caisse d’Epargne et de Prévoyance Hauts-de-France, Caisse d’Epargne Rhône-Alpes, Coöperatieve Rabobank, ING BANK N.V, KfW IPEX-Bank, Kommunalkredit Austria, Mizuho Bank, MUFG Bank, Natixis, SMBC Bank International, Société Générale and Standard Chartered Bank.
Finally, the project benefits from the support of public institutions, including the European Investment Bank, Bpifrance Assurance Export through the implementation of a Strategic Projects Guarantee, the French Government under the “France 2030” plan, the Hauts-de-France region, the Dunkerque urban community, the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, and the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME).
Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, states: “The inauguration of this Gigafactory, the third in this Region, demonstrates that reindustrialization, innovation, and decarbonization can move forward together. We are creating jobs, strengthening our technology and energy autonomy, and preparing the future of mobility in France and across Europe. I congratulate the teams and all the partners for this achievement, which powerfully reflects our industrial ambition.”
Benoit Lemaignan, CEO of Verkor, states: “The inauguration of our Gigafactory, five years after Verkor’s creation, marks the culmination of an exceptional commitment from our teams and the steadfast support of our partners. This project embodies Europe’s energy transition and the industrialization in France and Europe of the key technologies that make it possible. It demonstrates that decarbonization and value creation in our territories can go hand in hand. Driven by strong political ambition, this milestone symbolizes Verkor’s transition into a European industrial company and opens the way for the imminent delivery of our batteries.”
Monique Barbut, minister for Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, and International Climate and Nature Negotiations, states: “With this first French automotive battery plant, we are taking a decisive step in scaling up our national industry. Here in Dunkirk, we are ushering our country into the industrial future of a decarbonised Europe, creating jobs and strengthening a strategic sector essential to our decarbonisation and our sovereignty.”
Sébastien Martin, minister Delegate to the Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty, responsible for Industry, states: “Today, with the inauguration of Verkor’s gigafactory, France reaches a new milestone in its industrial history. This plant stands as a symbol of our ambition for sovereignty in the field of electric batteries. But above all, it is the result of the work, commitment, and talent of all those who, day after day, bring this project to life. I want to pay tribute to the women and men who carry our ambitions: their skill, expertise, dedication, and passion are the driving force behind this venture. We are counting on them, and we will stand by their side to build a strong European industry — one that creates jobs here in France and safeguards our energy future.”
Xavier Bertrand, President of the Hauts-de-France Region, states: “Today, with the inauguration of this Verkor Gigafactory, we are writing a new chapter in the industrial history of Hauts-de-France. From the very beginning, we believed in this project because it carried a clear vision: the emergence of a French and European battery industry capable of creating, here in our region, the jobs and technologies of the future – and of placing our region at the heart of the electric mobility revolution.
The Region took full responsibility, committing €60 million. I want to acknowledge the teams, the industrial partners, and of course the employees, because they are the ones who bring this project to life. I am also aware of the challenges that lie ahead. This inauguration sends a powerful message: when we fight for a project, when we believe in it, when we stand together, industry can be reborn. And it is being reborn here, in our Hauts-de-France. This is a source of pride for our region, which has truly become Europe’s battery valley. Here in Bourbourg, we are once again demonstrating that industry has a future in France – and above all, in Hauts-de-France.”
Patrice Vergriete, President of the Dunkirk Urban Community, states:“Today is a great day for Dunkirk, for France, and for Europe. Verkor embodies an industrial France that innovates and shapes our future. A new chapter in our industrial history is being written today. The launch of the Verkor gigafactory is a testament to the renewed attractiveness of the Dunkirk area and reinforces the development model we have been pursuing since 2014, in line with our commitments: building the industry of the future: innovative and decarbonised. This momentum benefits, and will continue to benefit, the 200,000 residents of the Dunkirk Urban Community.”
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