PowerCo

Name

PowerCo

Legal name

PowerCo SE

Website

https://powerco.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

EV Battery Cell Manufacturing

NAICS

Battery Manufacturing (33591)

SIC

Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Battery Cell Manufacturing (EV) (IMACACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cell Manufacturing (Cylindrical, Prismatic, Pouch) (EUAFABAG), Battery Cells (Li-ion, LFP, Sodium-ion, Lead-acid, NiMH) (IMAGAHAA), Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly) (IMAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Battery cell manufacturing
• Electric vehicle batteries
• Prismatic unified cells
• Energy storage systems
• Gigafactory production

Headquarters

HQ city

Salzgitter

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Battery Cell Manufacturing (OEM Supply): PowerCo manufactures prismatic battery cells at its Salzgitter gigafactory and future Valencia and St. Thomas facilities, supplying Volkswagen Group brands (VW, ŠKODA, SEAT/CUPRA, Audi, Porsche) for electric vehicles. Production capacity ramping from initial 20 GWh to up to 40 GWh at Salzgitter.
2. Unified Cell Platform Licensing (Internal): Unified Cell serves as the standardized battery platform for 80% of VW Group's electric vehicles, enabling cost optimization across vehicle segments from cost-optimized to high-end applications.
3. Energy Storage Systems: PowerCo supplies cells, packs, and cubes for Energy Storage Systems (ESS) based on the Unified Cell Format, targeting grid storage and energy trading markets through VW's Elli subsidiary.
4. Technology Licensing (External): PowerCo is exploring external financing including potential IPO, strategic partnerships, and outside investors, as VW Group has reduced PowerCo's budget from initial €15 billion over five years to less than €10 billion currently.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

PowerCo manufactures standardized prismatic battery cells under its Unified Cell platform at gigawatt-hour scale, supplying them internally to Volkswagen Group brands for electric passenger cars, trucks, and buses. It also produces Cells, Packs, and Cubes for stationary Energy Storage Systems based on the same Unified Cell format, serving grid storage and energy trading markets via Volkswagen's Elli subsidiary.

Product overview

PowerCo offers a focused portfolio of battery products centered around the Unified Cell platform. The Unified Cell is a standardized prismatic battery cell designed for passenger cars, trucks, and buses, supporting multiple chemistries from cost-optimized LFP to high-end NMC, silicon-anode, and solid-state technologies. Energy Storage Solutions provide stationary storage products (Cells, Packs, Cubes) using the same Unified Cell Format. Both products share common platform architecture, manufacturing principles, and safety standards, with the Unified Cell serving as the foundational technology for both automotive and stationary storage applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Unified Cell Standardized prismatic battery cell powering passenger cars, trucks, and buses; supports cost-optimized through high-end chemistries (LFP, NMC, silicon-anode) with roadmap to solid-state integration. Designed for highest energy density, fast-charging, high efficiency, and superior safety.
• Energy Storage Solutions (ESS) Cells, Packs, and Cubes for stationary Energy Storage Systems based on the Unified Cell Format, guaranteeing highest safety standards and lifecycle for grid storage, renewable integration, and energy trading applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~10% higher energy density than previous generation cells
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or Integration · 28 May 2026PowerCo partnered with Microsoft to build a global gigafactory network leveraging AI analytics, digital twins, and automated cloud services. The digital architecture serves PowerCo's factories in Salzgitter (Germany), Valencia (Spain), and St. Thomas (Canada), improving yield, energy efficiency, quality, and process stability. The partnership builds on Volkswagen Group's One Cloud strategy.
• Cabot CorporationstrategicTechnology or Integration · 7 February 2026Cabot signed a multi-year agreement with PowerCo to support expansion of gigafactory footprint in Western geographies, providing battery materials including conductive carbons for lithium-ion battery applications.
• Cabot CorporationstrategicTechnology or Integration · 7 January 2026Cabot signed a multi-year supply agreement with PowerCo to provide advanced conductive carbons and conductive dispersions for lithium-ion battery electrodes for electric vehicles in Europe. The materials are designed to increase battery conductivity, energy density, charging speed, and battery life. This positions Cabot as one of the leading conductive materials suppliers in the European EV battery market.
• QuantumScapecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2024PowerCo licensed QuantumScape's solid-state lithium-metal battery technology (QSE-5), initially for up to 40 GWh annual production, expandable to 80 GWh. The agreement includes up to $130 million prepayment and was later expanded by up to $131 million in milestone-based payments over two years (July 2025), granting PowerCo expanded licensing rights including production of up to 5 additional GWh annually and ability to supply other customers beyond VW Group.
• UmicorestrategicTechnology or IntegrationUmicore is listed as a strong partnership in PowerCo's ecosystem, working together on battery technology development including materials for the Unified Cell platform.
• Gotion High-TechstrategicTechnology or IntegrationGotion High-Tech is listed as a strong partnership in PowerCo's ecosystem, collaborating on battery technology development.
• AVLminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAVL was commissioned by PowerCo SE to design a battery-cell testing laboratory in Germany, supporting quality assurance and validation of battery cell production.
• Volkswagen Group (Parent)coreOthersPowerCo is a 100% owned subsidiary of Volkswagen Group. VW Group provides the strategic mandate, initial investment, and guaranteed captive customer base. VW Group has committed up to €10 billion to PowerCo's gigafactory expansion and owns all of PowerCo's shares.
• Mercedes-BenzstrategicTechnology or IntegrationMercedes-Benz is participating in The Battery Show Europe 2026 alongside PowerCo, discussing battery innovation and electrification challenges facing the European battery industry.
• CATLstrategicTechnology or IntegrationCATL is participating in The Battery Show Europe 2026 alongside PowerCo, addressing battery innovation and supply chain challenges facing the European battery industry.
• Saft (TotalEnergies)strategicTechnology or IntegrationSaft (a TotalEnergies subsidiary) is participating in The Battery Show Europe 2026 alongside PowerCo, discussing battery innovation and electrification challenges.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CATL: Global battery cell leader with multi-TWh scale and broad OEM customer base across EVs and ESS. Directly comparable to PowerCo in cell manufacturing technology, but with vastly greater scale, lower unit costs, and a diversified customer portfolio versus PowerCo's VW-only captive base.
• Panasonic Energy: Long-standing battery cell manufacturer, primary supplier to Tesla, with growing North American capacity in Kansas and De Soto. Comparable in cell manufacturing scale and technology, though focused on cylindrical rather than prismatic formats.
• BYD: Vertically integrated Chinese EV and battery maker producing LFP cells at massive scale for both captive use and external supply. Comparable to PowerCo's vertical integration strategy and Unified Cell standardization approach, though at fundamentally larger scale.

Direct peers

• LG Energy Solution: Major battery cell manufacturer supplying multiple global OEMs with prismatic, pouch, and cylindrical cells. Most directly comparable to PowerCo in targeting large OEM contracts with prismatic cell formats and pursuing North American/European gigafactory capacity.
• Samsung SDI: Premium battery cell maker with strong OEM relationships including BMW, Stellantis, and Rivian; building European and North American gigafactories. Directly comparable to PowerCo in prismatic cell technology and Western OEM supply focus.
• SK On: Major Korean battery cell supplier to Ford, Hyundai, and other OEMs with significant US/EU gigafactory investments. Comparable to PowerCo in pursuing high-volume prismatic/pouch cell supply contracts with Western OEMs.
• ACC (Automotive Cells Company): European battery cell JV between Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, and TotalEnergies building gigafactories in France, Germany, and Italy. Directly comparable to PowerCo as a European-headquartered cell maker serving Western OEMs with localized production.

Emerging players

• Northvolt: Swedish battery cell maker that filed for bankruptcy in 2024-2025, highlighting execution and funding risks for European cell startups. Closely comparable to PowerCo in targeting Western OEMs with locally produced prismatic cells and ESS products.
• Verkor: French battery cell startup building a gigafactory in Dunkirk, backed by Renault and other investors. Comparable to PowerCo as a European prismatic cell producer targeting automotive OEMs with high-performance cells.
• Envision AESC: Global battery manufacturer with European and US gigafactories supplying Renault and BMW. Comparable to PowerCo in building non-Asian supply chains and producing cells for major Western OEMs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUvhIjgL5h15ESOdUWr21ig
• Facebookfacebook.com/PowerCoOfficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/powerco-se
• Instagraminstagram.com/powerco_se

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PowerCo