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Mystery deaths and mass layoffs: Europe’s green battery dream Northvolt turns sour

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By illuminem briefings

· 2 min read


illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on France24 or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Northvolt, the Swedish battery company once hailed as a leader in Europe's green transition, is facing major setbacks
Production issues at its flagship plant in Skelleftea, mysterious employee deaths, and severe financial troubles have led to mass layoffs and order cancellations
As a result, Northvolt's future is now in jeopardy

🔭 The context: Founded in 2016 with backing from top investors and automakers like BMW and Volkswagen, Northvolt aimed to produce the world's cleanest electric car batteries
It was central to Europe's strategy to reduce reliance on China for battery production and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050
However, a leaked report revealed that its factory was underperforming, producing only 5% of its targets

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Northvolt's struggles highlight the challenges of scaling up green energy solutions
Its failure could slow Europe's transition away from fossil fuels and hinder the electric vehicle industry's growth, particularly in reducing reliance on imported batteries

⏭️ What's next: As financial pressures mount, Northvolt's survival is uncertain
With ongoing investigations into workplace safety and a possible bankruptcy looming, its ability to deliver on promised battery innovations remains in doubt

💬 One quote: "Northvolt is the biggest green bubble in Europe to burst," - Christian Sandstrom, associate professor and columnist

📈 One stat: Northvolt has cut 1,600 jobs, about 20% of its workforce, in response to financial difficulties

Click for more news covering the latest on battery tech

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