Ganfeng Lithium, China’s leading lithium metal supplier, has announced plans to establish a joint venture in Turkey to build a new battery manufacturing facility. The company’s subsidiary, Ganfeng LiEnergy, has signed a cooperation framework agreement with Turkey’s Yigit Aku to expand its business in Turkey and internationally.
The joint venture plans to invest $500 million in a lithium battery project with an annual production capacity of 5 gigawatt hours (GWh) in Turkey. The facility will include both a lithium battery production line and a battery pack production line.
As part of the initiative, the joint venture intends to establish research and development centers focused on advanced lithium battery technologies. These centers will focus on the development of new technologies, including solid-state batteries, high-power batteries, and marine and aerospace batteries.
Founded in 1976, Yigit Aku is Turkey’s largest manufacturer and exporter of lead-acid batteries. The company operates four manufacturing plants and two battery R&D centers, serving more than 500 customers in over 100 countries.
This expansion into Turkey marks a significant step in Ganfeng’s global operations. The company is a major player in the lithium industry, producing more than 40 lithium compounds and metal products used in electric vehicles, aerospace and other applications. Ganfeng has also developed proprietary battery technology, including solid-state batteries.
The investment underscores Turkey’s growing importance in the global electric vehicle and battery supply chain. It also reflects Ganfeng’s strategy to vertically integrate its operations from lithium production to battery manufacturing.
Source: CNEVPOST