Verkor announced on March 30, 2026, that its Dunkirk Gigafactory has entered the final validation phase of its industrial ramp-up, following its inauguration in late 2025. The company reports that commissioning and product-line balancing were completed ahead of schedule, and that production lines are now fully optimized, stabilized and operating continuously. Serial production is expected to begin within the coming months.
This achievement underscores Verkor’s role as a key European industrial player in the battery sector, supporting both the energy transition and Europe’s industrial sovereignty. Since its founding, the company has collaborated closely with partners—among them a major automotive group—to accelerate the development of a competitive battery supply chain in Europe.
Concurrently, Verkor has appointed Jacques Esculier as President of its supervisory board, succeeding Bart de Beer. Esculier brings extensive governance and industrial expertise, having led major transformations at global companies in the automotive and industrial sectors. In his non-executive capacity, he will work alongside the management team and fellow board members to refine strategic direction and oversee general management under the leadership of CEO and co-founder Benoit Lemaignan.
“I am honored to join Verkor at a key stage of its development,” said Esculier. “The company’s project addresses two essential priorities: decarbonizing our economy and building European industrial sovereignty in the battery sector. I look forward to contributing strategic insights and supporting the team as it scales up.”
Benoit Lemaignan added, “Jacques Esculier’s international experience and perspective on complex industrial transformations will strengthen our trajectory in this new phase.”
The supervisory board now includes representatives from key investors and partners, as well as senior figures from the company’s leadership team. With its governance refreshed and industrial milestones firmly in place, Verkor plans a disciplined rollout of its projects and continued support for the ongoing ramp-up of its Dunkirk Gigafactory.
Source: Verkor
