Stellantis and Samsung SDI have announced plans to construct a second battery gigafactory in Kokomo, Indiana, as part of their joint venture, StarPlus Energy.
StarPlus Energy’s first gigafactory, also situated in Kokomo, is currently under construction. With the addition of this second plant, Kokomo is poised to become Samsung’s largest production base for electric vehicle (EV) batteries in North America. The original factory, unveiled in May last year, is slated to start production in the first quarter of 2025, with the second facility aiming to begin operations in early 2027.
Combined, these two gigafactories will boast an annual production capacity of 67 gigawatt-hours (GWh), with the first facility capable of producing 33 GWh and the second, 34 GWh.
These projects are backed by a total investment of $6.3 billion, with the joint venture committing $3.2 billion to the new battery plant. Stellantis is also dedicating $155 million to revamp three Kokomo vehicle manufacturing plants to create new electric drive modules (EDMs), which will power their upcoming EVs manufactured in North America.
This new gigafactory in Kokomo marks Stellantis’ sixth battery facility globally, aligning with its ‘Dare Forward’ electrification plan. This plan aims to achieve 100% passenger car battery EV sales in Europe and 50% passenger car and light-truck battery EV sales in the US by 2030. To meet this ambitious target, Stellantis aims to secure 400 GWh of battery capacity.
“Our battery ecosystem is the foundation of our electrification strategy and our great partners Samsung SDI, the State of Indiana, and the City of Kokomo have created a compelling case for locating our sixth gigafactory in Kokomo,” said Mark Stewart, Stellantis COO North America. “The BEVs coming to our North America brands play an important role in our drive to offer clean, safe and affordable mobility for all and achieve the bold goal of carbon net zero by 2038.”
