The ongoing, though scaled-down, production at the Skellefteå battery factory suggests to experts interviewed by Norran that a new owner is likely close to being secured.
Keeping production running at the battery factory in Skellefteå has been the top priority for the bankruptcy administrator since he took over operations following the bankruptcy on March 12.
Yesterday’s announcement of continued operations – albeit on a smaller scale – is therefore in many ways a positive sign for the factory’s survival.
–Despite major staff cutbacks, it is positive that operations can continue to some extent, which is likely crucial for selling the business, either in full or in part, said administrator Mikael Kubu in a statement on Monday.
Battery experts contacted by Norran also see the continuation of production at the factory as a sign that a new owner may be within reach.
At Monday’s staff meeting, Northvolt’s management mentioned that a very interesting player had made a confidential visit to the battery factory on Friday, according to an employee who attended the meeting.
The management did not name any specific companies—but Norran can now report that a private jet operated by Bosch-owned company Scintilla was parked at Skellefteå Airport on Friday. According to Flightradar24, it landed at 09:17 and departed at 17:53.
Sources contacted by Norran also claim that representatives from Mercedes-Benz visited the factory that same day. Whether the two companies were there together remains unclear, but they have collaborated before and both have headquarters near Stuttgart—the departure and destination of the private jet that visited Skellefteå.
Northvolt’s head of communications, Matti Kataja, declined to comment.
– Generally, if there is a visit here, it’s not something we discuss publicly, he said.
Bosch is a German company and a global leader in technology and services.
Bosch once regarded batteries as a simple product that anyone could manufacture, one expert noted.
– But how mistaken they were. Today, it’s a battery manufacturer, BYD, that has ascended to become the world’s largest producer of electric cars, a battery expert informed Norran.
In recent years, Bosch has faced challenges as many of its customers have transitioned to electric vehicles.
– That could certainly indicate they are now exploring alternative business domains, and in that context, batteries would be a reasonable consideration—even if they previously declined.
Norran asked Bosch’s Nordic head of communications, Lotta Törnberg, about the company’s visit to Skellefteå. She responded via email:
“We request your understanding that, due to the volume of routes, potential alterations, and security protocols, we generally do not disclose specifics regarding past, present, or future flights.”
Mercedes-Benz denies having been in Skellefteå last week. ”The speculation that we are interested in buying Northvolt is without merit”, says Edward Taylor of Mercedes-Benz Group AB.
Just a week prior, Mercedes-Benz also unveiled the latest iteration of the Mercedes CLA, which will feature a high-end lithium-ion battery—the precise type Northvolt manufactures.
Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz is a stakeholder in the battery company Automotive Cells Company (ACC), which was characterized a year ago as one of Northvolt’s principal competitors.
ACC is jointly owned by Mercedes-Benz, automaker Stellantis (encompassing brands such as Alfa Romeo, Citroën, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Opel, and Peugeot), and tech company Saft, a subsidiary of Total Energies—the world’s fourth-largest non-state-owned oil company by revenue.
ACC currently operates a substantial battery factory in France and conducts extensive research on EV batteries. Following Northvolt’s insolvency, ACC’s CEO, Yann Vincent, reiterated his confidence in a competitive European battery industry.
– For me, the answer is YES: in the medium term, we can achieve competitiveness, he stated.
Norran has contacted Mercedes-Benz Group AG, which denies visiting Skellefteå to evaluate Northvolt.
– The speculation that we are interested in buying Northvolt is without merit, says Edward Taylor of Mercedes-Benz Group AB.
Panasonic has so far focused entirely on manufacturing cylindrical battery cells, which are a different type than the prismatic cells produced in Skellefteå.
Another potential buyer of the battery factory in Skellefteå is the Japanese firm Panasonic, which, according to Norran’s sources, has also conducted a visit to Skellefteå.
Panasonic operates multiple lithium-ion battery factories in Japan and the US, including a collaborative venture with Tesla.
Through business consultant Dag Klingstedt—originally from Bäverhult but based in Tokyo for the past 40 years—Norran was able to establish contact with Panasonic’s vice president.
– He indicates that, currently, the company is concentrating its battery factory investments in the US, says Klingstedt.
To date, Panasonic has primarily focused on the production of cylindrical battery cells, which differ from the prismatic cells manufactured in Skellefteå.
Norran has made attempts to contact the bankruptcy administrators, thus far without success.