Volkswagen is considering establishing an in-house battery manufacturing business in North America, similar to what it does in Germany. Johndenison, chief operating officer of Volkswagen, said that the goal is to alleviate the upcoming battery shortage by supplementing suppliers with their own production. The board is still weighing the idea and has not yet made a final decision.
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Denison said in an interview at Volkswagen's new battery testing laboratory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Wednesday that vertical integration must be carried out when we consider strategic options.
A spokesman for the company said that it has been looking for the location of the battery factory in the United States and should make a decision before the end of this year. Volkswagen is considering establishing its own battery production facilities, using third-party suppliers or establishing joint ventures.
From Volkswagen to general motors, automakers are exploring different business models as they compete to electrify their product lines and catch up with Tesla, the world's largest seller of electric vehicles. They are establishing partnerships with battery manufacturers and mining companies to ensure the safety of materials and technologies.