The BEL is VWoA’s first facility of its type and one of four strategically located units in the VW Group globally, with the others in Braunschweig, Germany, and two Chinese facilities in Shanghai and Changchun.

VW’s modular electric drive toolkit (MEB) is its modular car platform devised by for EV products. Engineers at the four battery facilities will initially focus on batteries and battery packs, with the potential to incorporate various types for all vehicle brands across the company’s global enterprise.

The German carmaker aims to investigate emerging battery technologies and develop knowledge of how new concepts and prototypes can support VWs specifications.