Volkswagen group’s Chairman Oliver Blume has said the German auto group will not make a decision on a fourth battery factory site “for now”, Reuters reports.

Mr Blume cited that demand for EVs in Europe was lagging expectations.  

A decision to put off an additional gigafactory was previously made a year ago, when VW was looking at sites in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.

Whilst VW has said there is “no rush” to decide on a fourth location, Czech officials have said they would begin offering their proposed site for Volkswagen’s battery plant to other investors, saying they could not afford to wait any longer for a decision, Reuters reports.

Volkswagen has selected sites for battery cell production in Germany, Spain and Canada, which it said had combined production potential of up to 200 gigawatt-hours (GWh) per year.

The news from VW also follows other reports of OEMs (such as Ford) slowing down on their BEV projects in response to slower than expected growth of BEV sales and cost management.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Auto Excellence Awards - Have you nominated?

Nominations are now open for the prestigious Just Auto Excellence Awards - one of the industry's most recognised programmes celebrating innovation, leadership, and impact. This is your chance to showcase your achievements, highlight industry advancements, and gain global recognition. Don't miss the opportunity to be honoured among the best - submit your nomination today!

Nominate Now