Electromobility: Škoda Auto Opens New Battery Production Hall in Mladá Boleslav

The expansion of electromobility in the Czech Republic is continuing to gain momentum: Škoda Auto is investing heavily in battery production and strengthening its role within the Volkswagen Group. The new production hall in Mladá Boleslav represents an important building block for future value creation in Europe.

Škoda Auto has opened a new production hall for battery systems, thereby strengthening its position as a key supplier within the Volkswagen Group. At the same time, the Czech Republic is gaining further importance as a key location for the European automotive industry and electromobility.

In addition to company representatives, high-ranking politicians also attended the official opening, including Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček, as well as senior representatives of the Volkswagen Group.

Foto: Škoda Auto

Mladá Boleslav becomes European centre for battery production

With the new facility in Mladá Boleslav, the so-called cell-to-pack technology is being produced within the Volkswagen Group in Europe for the first time. Škoda is thus becoming the Group’s largest manufacturer of battery systems for electric vehicles.

“In Mladá Boleslav, we have already assembled around 1.4 million battery systems since 2019. The start of production of cell-to-pack battery systems is another step towards bringing an important part of the value chain into our own plants. At the same time, this is recognition of the performance and expertise of our teams, as well as a long-term commitment to the Czech Republic as an important location for the European automotive industry,” says Klaus Zellmer, Chief Executive Officer of Škoda Auto.

Foto: Škoda Auto

The batteries produced in the new hall are intended for use in high-volume electric models. They are considered particularly robust while also being simpler and more cost-effective to produce. According to the company, internal production, standardised cell formats and the use of lithium iron phosphate technology (LFP) can reduce production costs by around 30 per cent.

Capacity is more than 1,100 battery systems per day, corresponding to an annual production of around 335,000 units. These are used in vehicles of the Škoda brand as well as in models of other Group brands.

Foto: Škoda Auto

Strengthening value creation in Europe

The development of the battery systems is carried out in close cooperation with the Volkswagen Group’s technology centre. The aim is to anchor the entire battery value chain more firmly in Europe and to reduce dependence on external suppliers.

Škoda Auto invested around €205 million in the new production hall, which covers an area of approximately 55,000 square metres. Construction took less than one year. The highly automated production operates with 131 robots and achieves a production cycle of 60 seconds per unit.

Foto: Škoda Auto

At the same time, the facility serves as a centre of expertise for battery technology. The production processes range from cell handling and preparation to precise welding and final assembly.

Around 600 employees were newly hired or appropriately qualified for the project. Škoda Auto is thus also underlining its role in the transformation of industry and in securing jobs in the Czech Republic.