December Newsletter 2025
- 20 hours ago
- 6 min read
Dear battery enthusiast,
Welcome to Battery Associates’ December newsletter. We have summarised some of the month’s most relevant news, highlighting recent developments and updates in the battery space.
B.A's Battery Newsletter:
Battery Industry Highlights
Company Member News
Battery Industry Highlights
In this section, we summarise relevant battery news from the past month.
On November 12, 2025, Toyota began production at its $13.9 billion battery plant in Liberty, North Carolina, its first battery facility outside Japan and its 11th U.S. factory. This battery plant will produce up to 30 GWh annually for plug‑in hybrids and full EVs. Toyota also confirmed plans to invest up to $10 billion in domestic manufacturing over the next five years, bringing total investment to more than $60 billion and further expanding its manufacturing footprint.
B.A Commentary: Toyota’s Liberty battery plant, initially planned in 2021, localises production amid shifting U.S. EV policies and global trade pressures. The $10 billion investment reflects long-term U.S. manufacturing expansion. By reducing reliance on imports, mitigating potential tariffs, and aligning with local industrial incentives, the plant supports supply chain resilience, workforce development, and the broader domestic battery materials ecosystem.
On Nov 13, 2025, LG Chem signed a 3.762 trillion won (~$2.8 billion) cathode material supply contract with undisclosed U.S. EV-related companies, extending through July 2029. The company has a total cathode production capacity of 150,000 tons across its Cheongju and Gumi plants in South Korea and its Wuxi plant in China. This contract builds on earlier supply agreements with Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, General Motors, and Prime Planet Energy & Solutions, highlighting LG Chem’s expanding role in global EV supply chains.
B.A Commentary: By anchoring cathode capacity across Korea and China and restructuring ownership at its Gumi plant to meet IRA constraints, LG Chem has positioned itself to serve U.S. automakers seeking compliant, long-term supply. Parallel investments in sodium-ion battery materials suggest the company is hedging future chemistry pathways in today’s EV-driven cathode market.
On Nov 1, 2025, Norwegian battery materials firm Vianode announced plans to invest $3.2 billion to build North America’s largest synthetic graphite production facility in St. Thomas, Ontario. Production is expected to begin in 2027, with capacity reaching up to 150,000 tonnes annually, sufficient for around two million EVs. The project is expected to create up to 1,000 jobs at full capacity and will receive a $670 million loan from the Ontario government.
B.A Commentary: This synthetic graphite production facility addresses a structural gap rather than short-term EV demand. Synthetic graphite remains one of the few battery materials almost entirely sourced from China, where pricing has disincentivised large-scale Western production. By combining public financing, access to low-carbon power, and proximity to emerging battery hubs, the project indicates whether synthetic graphite manufacturing can be economically viable in North America. Its outcome will be influenced by policy alignment, cost discipline, and the pace of EV adoption.
On Nov 26, 2025, CATL and Stellantis broke ground on a €4.1 billion battery plant in Figueruelas, Spain, slated to be the country’s largest. Production is expected to start in late 2026, with workforce training for up to 4,000 employees. This project is backed up by over €300 million in EU funding. Early construction phases are expected to involve Chinese workers in combination with local hires.
B.A Commentary: CATL’s use of experienced personnel alongside planned training of local workers highlights a persistent skills gap in Europe’s advanced battery sector. Spain’s lower energy and labor costs attract investment, but reliance on foreign expertise underscores the difficulty of establishing autonomous supply chains. EU funding signals policy urgency, yet the joint venture also illustrates the challenge of competing with established Asian producers as it expands production capacity in Europe.
On Nov 4, 2025, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) and LG Chem signed a joint development agreement to collaborate on cathode and anode materials for sodium‑ion batteries. The partnership will target energy storage systems and low-speed electric vehicles in China and global markets. It aims to accelerate the commercialisation of sodium‑ion battery technologies and will pursue broader collaboration in new energy and high‑value materials.
B.A Commentary: The Sinopec–LG Chem partnership reflects a strategic pivot toward battery chemistries that reduce dependence on lithium and cobalt. Sodium‑ion batteries offer abundant materials and lower-cost solutions, particularly for grid storage and light-EV applications, but current technical challenges in energy density and scaling remain. By combining Sinopec’s industrial scale with LG Chem’s materials expertise, the collaboration tests the commercial viability of alternative chemistries and signals early moves toward diversified, resource-resilient supply chains, a key consideration as global EV markets face material supply challenges.
Company Member News
Thermo Fisher Scientific
The electrolyte plays an important role in the charging and discharging performance of a Li-ion battery, and regular, rigorous quality control during production is vital, especially in the ramp-up phase. Our application note details how ICP spectrometry can be used to provide robust analysis of trace elements in electrolyte samples at all stages, from battery production to end of life. Read more here.
IndX
Battery passports are quickly moving from concept to compliance requirement. In this rapid-fire discussion, Battery Associates and Engineering Industries eXcellence (IndX) break down what the EU Battery Passport really is, why it matters now, and what companies must do to prepare.
The conversation covers the February 2027 deadline, data ownership across the value chain, common misconceptions about "one-solution" compliance and how battery passports will enable better decision-making across manufacturing, second life and recycling. A clear, practical starting point is shared for battery OEMs and suppliers who want to move from uncertainty to action.
Watch the recording here.
Creonia Cells
Creonia Cells GmbH is expanding its team in Enns, Austria, and offers two exciting opportunities at the interface of research and industrialisation in next-generation lithium-ion electrode manufacturing. EU work permit preferred; ideally German-speaking.
If you recommend a candidate who gets hired, you receive a 500 € referral bonus.
1. Laboratory and Development Technician Battery Research (f m d)
Work on electrode development, cell assembly and electrochemical testing in a modern R&D environment.
Hands-on laboratory and development role
Coin cell and pouch cell assembly and testing
Analytical work, slurry preparation, coating and calendering
Competitive salary from 4,000 € gross per month with bonus options
2. Process Engineer / Technician Plant and Process Development (f m d)
Support the development of Creonia’s breakthrough electrode manufacturing technology from process design to pilot plant operation.
Process engineering plant layout and P&I diagrams
Automation concepts and collaboration with equipment suppliers
Operation optimisation and scaling of pilot facilities
Opportunity to influence the next generation of electrode production
Find the full job posting here: https://www.creocell-career.at/
Send your application directly to markus.ungerank@creonia.at
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The programme includes a battery-focused case study track, over 30 short presentations from peers, a mentorship programme, networking and career skills sessions, and a roundtable session. Need-based partial scholarships and group discounts are also available. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@battery.mba.
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