"We would need 100 gigafactories in Europe by 2035 to meet the electrification targets" (S. Rouaud, AESC)

"We support the EU's efforts to preserve and develop the battery sector in Europe, particularly through the Battery Booster. This will require pragmatism: to meet the announced electrification targets for the European vehicle fleet,100 gigafactories like ours will have to be developed in Europe by 2035. This will require a large-scale approach and a firm strategy,” said Sébastien Rouaud, Managing Director of AESC Europe, to News Tank at the Group’s booth at Vivatech on 18 June 2026.

As AESC’s gigafactory in Douai celebrates its first anniversary - and its first GWh produced - Sébastien Rouaud looks back on the project’s origins: “We were able to build our gigafactory, covering 10 hectares and standing 32 metres high, in three and a half years on a greenfield site. This was made possible by AESC’s experience in such projects, but also thanks to support from the regional and French public authorities: planning permission was granted swiftly, in accordance with the rules, of course, but with a level of dynamism that is worth highlighting.”

“The support provided by France Travail also…