Stellantis and Samsung SDI have chosen the location for their final pre-announced “gigafactory,” or battery-and-cell plant. Scheduled to start production in early 2027, it will be able to produce 34 GWh of batteries per year, and will cost the two companies $3.2 billion.
The plant is going to be built in Kokomo, which is also the site of the other announced American joint-venture battery plant (which starts producing cells and batteries in the first quarter of 2025). Indiana has been the most popular site for new FCA US investments over the last decade or so.
The joint venture, StarPlus Energy, uses Samsung SDI technology in its cells, modules, and batteries. Stellantis is aiming for a 50/50 BEV-and-gasoline sales mix in the United States by 2030, not counting medium-duty trucks such as the Ram 4500 and 5500 chassis cabs. In Europe, Stellantis plans to be fully BEV by 2030 in light vehicle sales. The company also has the goal of becoming carbon net zero by 2038.
Samsung SDI owns the former Magna Steyr Battery Systems and also supplies BMW. More on Samsung SDI and PRiMX batteries.
