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US Startup Lyten Acquires Europe’s Largest Battery Storage Factory in Poland

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U.S.-based startup Lyten is set to take full ownership of Northvolt Dwa ESS, the largest energy storage systems (ESS) factory in Europe, marking a major expansion of its operations and product offerings. The announcement was made Tuesday as Lyten confirmed plans to restart operations at the Gdansk-based facility immediately.

The acquisition follows the bankruptcy of Swedish battery maker Northvolt’s energy storage division, which filed for insolvency in March. The failure, one of Sweden’s biggest corporate collapses, dashed hopes of developing a strong European competitor to dominant Chinese battery manufacturers. Northvolt had originally shut down the Polish plant in November 2023.

“We plan to immediately restart operations in Poland and deliver on existing and new customer orders,” said Dan Cook, Lyten’s CEO and co-founder.

The 25,000-square-meter facility, which first opened in 2023, houses advanced equipment for manufacturing battery energy storage systems (BESS). It currently supports 6 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of manufacturing capacity, with the potential to scale up to 10 GWh, according to Lyten’s statement. The company added that it already holds contracted orders extending into 2026.

The move positions Lyten as a key player in the European clean energy storage market, where demand for grid-scale battery storage is rapidly growing. The acquisition also offers Lyten a strong foothold in the EU’s strategic push for energy independence and decarbonization.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but completion is expected in the third quarter of 2025.

Scania Steps In to Support Struggling Battery Maker Northvolt

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Truck manufacturer Scania has taken an active role in assisting Northvolt, the troubled electric vehicle battery maker, in an effort to improve production quality and secure its financial future. Since November, Scania has deployed staff to Northvolt’s Ett plant in northern Sweden to work alongside managers and help standardize operations, according to internal documents reviewed by Reuters.

Northvolt, once seen as Europe’s best hope for an EV battery leader, has faced persistent quality and production issues. Its financial situation remains precarious, with only weeks of funding left unless it secures an additional $1.29 billion. Last year, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. after failing to reach a financing deal with key investors, including Volkswagen, Goldman Sachs, and Scania itself.

Scania, which owns a stake in Northvolt and relies on it for battery supply, has played a hands-on role in the production process, a level of involvement beyond what other customers, such as Audi and Porsche, have shown. The truckmaker’s employees have been embedded at Northvolt’s plant under a program called “P.2 100k,” aimed at ramping up weekly battery cell production to at least 100,000 units. Improving quality is crucial for Northvolt to access additional funding, with Scania linking loan disbursements to production milestones.

Industry experts note that while Scania lacks deep expertise in battery manufacturing, its operational efficiency and experience in scaling up production could provide valuable guidance. Workers at Northvolt remain hopeful that Scania’s intervention will help stabilize the company and prevent its collapse. A failure of Northvolt could leave Scania scrambling for alternative battery suppliers and force Europe to rely more heavily on Chinese manufacturers such as BYD and CATL.

 

GM to Sell Stake in Battery Cell Plant to LG Energy Solution for $1 Billion

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General Motors (GM) has announced its decision to sell its stake in a $2.6 billion electric vehicle (EV) battery cell plant in Lansing, Michigan, to its joint venture partner, LG Energy Solution (LGES). The Detroit-based automaker expects to recoup approximately $1 billion from the sale, which is part of a nonbinding agreement between the two companies. This transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2024.

The Lansing facility, a 2.8 million-square-foot plant, is nearly finished and was initially planned to be the third battery cell production site for their joint venture, Ultium Cells LLC, following operational plants in Ohio and Tennessee. The plant was first announced in January 2022, and GM and LGES formed their partnership five years ago.

GM’s decision to sell its stake is driven by the need to adjust production to meet current EV market conditions, including slower-than-expected consumer demand and uncertainties surrounding federal incentives for EV manufacturing and sales in the U.S. under President-elect Donald Trump. However, GM emphasized that the sale would not affect its overall stake in the joint venture or its plans for a separate joint venture with LGES competitor Samsung SDI.

Paul Jacobson, GM’s Chief Financial Officer, expressed confidence that the deal would enable the automaker to continue growing in the EV market efficiently. He stated, “We believe we have the right cell and manufacturing capabilities in place to grow with the EV market in a capital efficient manner.” Jacobson added that the sale would also help LG Energy Solution meet growing demand by utilizing the nearly ready Lansing facility.

Following the sale, LGES will gain immediate access to the Lansing plant to begin installing equipment, as the facility prepares for operations, expected by the end of 2023. The plant currently employs around 100 people.

In addition to the sale, GM also revealed it is extending its 14-year battery technology partnership with LGES to develop prismatic cells, an emerging battery form factor. Prismatic cells, which are flat and rectangular, offer more efficient space utilization within battery modules and packs. GM highlighted that these cells could reduce the weight and cost of EVs while simplifying the manufacturing process.

Kurt Kelty, GM’s vice president of battery cell and pack, noted, “We’re focused on optimizing our battery technology by developing the right battery chemistries and form factors to improve EV performance, enhance safety, and reduce costs.” The expansion of GM’s battery technologies will also include prismatic cells in addition to its current Ultium pouch-style cells.