EcoPro has finalized construction of its cathode material manufacturing plant in Debrecen, Hungary, positioning the company to serve the European electric vehicle market amid tightening regulations on core battery materials. The site spans roughly 440,000 square meters and integrates three EcoPro affiliates: EcoPro BM for cathode production, EcoPro Innovation for lithium processing, and EcoPro AP for industrial oxygen and nitrogen generation.
The facility’s annual output will reach 54,000 tons of cathode materials—sufficient for batteries in about 600,000 EVs—alongside 8,000 tons of lithium hydroxide and up to 16,000 cubic meters of oxygen per hour.
A dedication ceremony brought together EcoPro founder Lee Dong-chae, CEO Song Ho-jun, EcoPro BM CEO Choi Moon-ho, and other executives, as well as Istvan Joo, head of the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency. Senior representatives from major clients, including GEM and SK On, also attended.
Lee credited the Hungarian government’s “comprehensive and rapid one-stop support” for enabling EcoPro to establish its first European production base just three years after breaking ground in 2023. He described the plant as “a new beginning for EcoPro and Europe” at a time of rapid transformation in the EV sector.
Commissioning will begin next year with high-nickel ternary cathode chemistries—specifically nickel cobalt aluminum (NCA) and nickel cobalt manganese (NCM). EcoPro plans to expand its portfolio to include mid-nickel cathodes and lithium iron phosphate to meet varied customer requirements. The company is also outlining future expansion to double the plant’s cathode capacity to 108,000 tons annually.
Hungary’s established battery ecosystem—with cell producers such as Samsung SDI, SK On, and CATL, along with automakers including BMW—supports this strategic investment. EcoPro emphasizes that sourcing low-cost nickel from its Indonesian smelter projects, combined with automation and advanced manufacturing technologies, will strengthen its competitiveness in the European market.
Source: Korea JoongAng Daily
