Battery manufacturer Clarios revealed it is investing EUR 200 million (approx. $223,721,000) in its European plants between 2022 and 2026, to continuously expand its production capacities for advanced absorbent glass mat (AGM) vehicle batteries. As of 2026, Clarios said around 50% more units will be produced each year.

In Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Clarios said it is operating 13 production sites including two recycling centers. These investments are a part of Clarios’ strategy to invest globally in projects specifically focused on AGM production in the near term, which allows Clarios in EMEA and its aftermarket brand VARTA Automotive to strengthen the company’s position in this region by driving our ability to deliver to the customers even quicker than before. The expansion creates around 150 jobs in the modern plants in Germany, Spain, Czech Republic and France enabling the building of production clusters bringing the “in-the region for-the region strategy” also in EMEA to life, according to Clarios.

The largest expansion of AGM capacity will be at the Hanover plant in Germany, which is also home to the European headquarters of Clarios. The company said it will use most of the investment to finance new assets and is also optimizing processes and shifting the entire site, including case production, to advanced battery technologies.

“Through extensive automation, we are increasing productivity at the site and, at the same time, securing the existing jobs there,” Dr. Werner Benade, president EMEA at Clarios, said.

To create the necessary space, Clarios said a significant part of the production of conventional batteries and advanced EFB batteries for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) has been relocated from Hanover to Česká Lípa in the Czech Republic. Additionally, plastic housing for AGM batteries and small parts such as plugs and handles will also be increasingly produced in Česká Lípa. Additional capacities were also created on this site: Clarios is expanding the factory building and investing in new production machines for a two-digit million amount.

In Zwickau, Germany, Clarios already operates the largest production plant for AGM batteries worldwide, the company said. The annual capacity here has increased significantly, which is based on an investment volume of several millions. Since the start of AGM production in 2002, more than 80 million batteries have been supplied from Zwickau.

“All these investments in our leading AGM technology ensure that our customers in the OEM and aftermarket business receive the best and most efficient batteries,” Benade said. “We will thus continue to support all electric and safety-relevant functions for all vehicle types for a long time to come. We are pushing forward with our solutions for transforming the automotive industry by implementing the trends of electrification, digitalization and circular economy.”