Customcells Group
Customcells GmbH is a German developer and manufacturer of customized high-performance lithium-ion battery cells serving defense, motorsport, automotive, and aviation clients from its Itzehoe headquarters under new family-office ownership following a 2025 restructuring.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersItzehoe, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Customcells Group does
Customcells GmbH is a German battery cell developer and manufacturer headquartered in Itzehoe, Schleswig-Holstein. Founded in 2012 as a Fraunhofer spin-off, the company specializes in customized, high-performance lithium-ion battery cells engineered for demanding applications where mass-market cells are inadequate. Its operations span the full value chain — material R&D, cell design, prototyping, pilot production, and industrialization support through gigafactory project planning and commissioning — with an R&D center and scalable production lines at its Itzehoe site.
The company's technology stack centers on lithium-ion cell development across LFP and NMC cathode chemistries, underpinned by proprietary process innovations including a PTFE-based dry coating technology for cathodes (validated through the ProLiT consortium for gigafactory-scale production at 160–220 kg/hour throughput and 17–21 m/min calender speeds), HiQ-CARB carbon-based conductive additives combining carbon nanotubes with renewable-sourced carbon acetylene black, and proprietary digital intelligence for cell performance prediction and digitalized quality processes. The company explicitly maintains a supply chain largely independent of China and manufactures to military standards for defense applications.
Customcells operates an enterprise field-sales, project-based revenue model combining hardware sales of tailored battery cells with professional services across prototyping, material/process evaluation, built-to-print manufacturing, and gigafactory planning. Customers span defense organizations, Formula 1 and World Endurance Championship motorsport teams, major automotive OEMs, and aviation electrification pioneers. Following financial difficulties, the company was rescued in mid-2025 by a family-office consortium led by existing investor ABACON and Salvia, and under a new management team (CEO Benno Leuthner, CTO Dr. Jan Diekmann, CPO Andreas Löhrke) announced in December 2025, Customcells is strategically refocusing on defense and motorsport as priority verticals.
Customcells Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Customcells Group
- Legal name
- Customcells GmbH
- Website
- https://customcells.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Customcells GmbH is a German developer and manufacturer of customized high-performance lithium-ion battery cells serving defense, motorsport, automotive, and aviation clients from its Itzehoe headquarters under new family-office ownership following a 2025 restructuring.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Customcells Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Customized Lithium-Ion Battery Cells
- NAICS
- Battery Manufacturing (33591), Battery Manufacturing (335910)
- SIC
- Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cell Manufacturing (Cylindrical, Prismatic, Pouch) (EUAFABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Battery Cells (Li-ion, LFP, Sodium-ion, Lead-acid, NiMH) (IMAGAHAA), Battery Pack Manufacturing & Module Assembly (EUAFABAI), Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly) (IMAGAHAB)
Keywords
Where Customcells Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Itzehoe
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Customcells Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Customized High-Performance Battery Cell Manufacturing: Manufacture and sale of tailor-made high-performance lithium-ion battery cells developed for specific customer applications in defense, motorsport, and other demanding sectors.
- Battery Development and Industrialization Services: Full-service battery development and industrialization support along the entire value chain—from initial concept and material selection through prototyping, pilot production, to industrialization, project planning and commissioning of gigafactories.
- Prototyping and Material Evaluation Services: Portfolio includes prototyping, material and process evaluation, and built-to-print manufacturing for customers seeking customized cell solutions.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Customcells Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Customcells develops and manufactures customized high-performance lithium-ion battery cells tailored to each customer's specific operating conditions, targeting defense, motorsport, automotive, aviation, and maritime applications. The company operates an R&D center and flexible, scalable production lines from laboratory to pilot scale at its Itzehoe, Germany headquarters, delivering cells built entirely in Germany with a China-independent supply chain and military-standard manufacturing for defense customers.
Product overview
CustomCells is a German battery cell developer and manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services centered on customized high-performance lithium-ion battery cells. The core offering consists of tailor-made battery cells designed for demanding applications in defense, motorsport, aviation, and maritime sectors. These are supported by a full-service value chain including prototyping, material and process evaluation, built-to-print manufacturing, and gigafactory project planning and commissioning. The company also develops proprietary technologies such as the HiQ-CARB carbon-based conductive additives and dry coating processes (ProLiT) that enhance battery performance and sustainability. With over 13 years of experience and more than 3,500 completed projects, CustomCells operates from its Itzehoe headquarters featuring R&D facilities and scalable production lines from laboratory to pilot scales.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Customized Lithium-Ion Battery Cells
- Prototyping Services
- Material and Process Evaluation
- Built-to-Print Manufacturing
- Gigafactory Project Planning and Commissioning
Quantifiable outcome
- 3,500+ completed projects delivered to customers
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Customcells Group
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Customcells Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Customcells Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- ProLiT Research ConsortiumcoreCustomCells participates in the ProLiT research project (funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research) developing dry coating of lithium-ion battery cathodes as an alternative to traditional wet-chemical methods. The consortium developed an industrialization concept for gigafactory-scale dry coating eliminating solvents and reducing energy consumption. CustomCells validates manufacturing integration of these processes.
- HiQ-CARB Research ConsortiumcoreCustomCells is an industry partner in the four-year HiQ-CARB research project developing innovative carbon-based conductive additives combining carbon nanotubes with renewable-sourced carbon acetylene black. The consortium includes Fraunhofer ISC, Aalto University, and University of Bordeaux. CustomCells validated manufacturing integration confirming the additives can be incorporated into existing production processes without significant modifications.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Customcells Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Northvolt: Swedish premium Li-ion cell developer and manufacturer focused on customized cells for automotive, energy storage, and industrial customers with vertically integrated production — directly comparable to CustomCells' customized Li-ion cell strategy and European premium positioning.
- Verkor: French battery cell manufacturer building gigafactory-scale Li-ion production with customization focus for automotive and industrial customers — closely comparable business model (customized cell development, European premium positioning, similar development-to-industrialization offering).
- Automotive Cells Company (ACC): European joint venture between Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, and TotalEnergies building gigafactories for Li-ion battery cells — competes with CustomCells for European automotive OEM cell contracts and shares the European premium positioning.
- FREYR Battery: Norwegian/US-listed battery cell developer building GWh-scale Li-ion production with a focus on customization and sustainability — comparable as a Western Li-ion cell developer serving automotive and ESS customers, though at larger scale than CustomCells.
- Microvast: US-listed vertically integrated Li-ion battery cell maker serving commercial vehicle, specialty automotive, and industrial customers with customized cell and pack solutions — comparable business model targeting non-mass-market applications with bespoke cell design.
Broad incumbents
- PowerCo: Volkswagen Group's battery subsidiary operating gigawatt-hour-scale cell factories across Europe with significant R&D capability — competes with CustomCells in automotive cell development and industrialization, though at much larger scale and as part of a wider OEM-owned portfolio.
- AESC: Global battery cell manufacturer (formerly Envision AESC) with multiple European gigafactory projects serving major automotive OEMs — broader incumbent competing for European OEM cell contracts at much larger scale than CustomCells.
Emerging players
- Solid Power: US-listed developer of sulfide-based solid-state battery cells with automotive OEM partnerships (BMW, Ford, SK On) — comparable as a Western cell technology developer focused on next-generation chemistries for premium automotive and aerospace applications.
- Enevate: US-based Li-ion cell technology company with silicon-dominant anode technology for EV and other applications — comparable as a Western advanced Li-ion cell developer serving automotive OEMs with differentiated cell chemistry IP.
Regional players
- ElringKlinger: German automotive supplier with battery and fuel cell technology operations including cell development and module/pack assembly — comparable German automotive battery player with similar customer base (European OEMs) and overlapping technology focus on electrified powertrains.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Customcells Group social profiles
Digital presenceCustomcells Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Customcells Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Customcells Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Customcells Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Customcells Group
What does Customcells Group do?
Customcells develops and manufactures customized high-performance lithium-ion battery cells tailored to each customer's specific operating conditions, targeting defense, motorsport, automotive, aviation, and maritime applications. The company operates an R&D center and flexible, scalable production lines from laboratory to pilot scale at its Itzehoe, Germany headquarters, delivering cells built entirely in Germany with a China-independent supply chain and military-standard manufacturing for defense customers.
Is Customcells Group a public or private company?
Customcells Group is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Customcells Group founded?
Customcells Group was founded in 2012. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Customcells Group based?
Customcells Group is headquartered in Itzehoe, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Customcells Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Customized High-Performance Battery Cell Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are battery Development and Industrialization Services and prototyping and Material Evaluation Services.
Who are Customcells Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Northvolt, Verkor, Automotive Cells Company (ACC), FREYR Battery and Microvast. Broad incumbents are PowerCo and AESC. Emerging players are Solid Power and Enevate. ElringKlinger is listed as a regional player.
Does Customcells Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Customcells Group.
What industry is Customcells Group in?
Customcells Group's product category is Customized Lithium-Ion Battery Cells. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAFABAG, Cell Manufacturing (Cylindrical, Prismatic, Pouch), with a secondary code of IMAGAHAA, Battery Cells (Li-ion, LFP, Sodium-ion, Lead-acid, NiMH). Its NAICS code is 33591 and its SIC code is 3620.