On 30 May 2023, ACC electrified the nation with the inauguration of France's first Gigafactory in Billy-Berclau Douvrin. With more than 700 participants, including business leaders from the industry and politicians from local, regional and national politics from the 3 countries in which ACC operates -France of course, but also Germany and Italy-, the event marked a pivotal moment for responsible mobility in the Hauts-de-France region. 

We were honoured to be joined by Mr Ola Källenius, Chairman and CEO of Mercedes-Benz, Mr Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, Mr Carlos Tavares, Managing Director and CEO of Stellantis, Mr Bruno Le Maire, French Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, Ms Agnès Pannier-Runacher, French Minister for Energy Transition, Mr Roland Lescure, French Minister Delegate for Industry, Dr. Volker Wissing, Minister for the Digital Economy and Transport of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Adolfo Urso, Minister for Enterprise and Made in Italy of the Italian Republic, Mr. Xavier Bertrand, President of the Hauts-de-France Region Mr. Alexander Schweitzer, Member of the SPD Central Committee, Minister for Labour, Social Affairs, Transformation and Digitisation of Rhineland-Palatinate, Hans-Dieter Lucas, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to France, and Emanuela D'Alessandro, Ambassador of Italy to France.

Guided tours led by our local teams showcased the state-of-the-art facility. A ballet of 8 electric Stellantis shuttles whisked guests through the 644m-long Gigafactory.

The VIPs took the stage, delivering impactful messages that set the tone for the ceremony. 
Yann Vincent, our CEO, expressed gratitude to shareholders, organizations, and the dedicated team of 1000+ employees who brought this Gigafactory to life. Ola Kallenius, CEO of Mercedes, highlighted the race to lead decarbonation and affirmed our commitment to sustainable mobility, as did Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of TotalEnergies, who underscored the challenges of industrial sovereignty and decarbonizing mobility. Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, praised the quality of the collaboration between the stakeholders and paid tribute to the employees and management of ACC, who are building their history with the pioneering spirit that characterises them. 

Xavier Bertrand, President of the Hauts-de-France Region, celebrated the Gigafactory as a testament to collective success and the future of Battery Valley. Bruno Le Maire, the French Minister, hailed the birth of a new industrial sector while guaranteeing Europe's automotive independence. Volker Wissing, the German Minister, emphasized the importance of this plant in securing Europe's progress amidst global competition and climate change whilst Adolfo Urso, the Italian Minister, stressed the revitalization of automotive production and the need for a robust industrial policy. Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister for Energy Transition, wrapped up with a powerful reminder of the Gigafactory's role in combating global warming.

As the inaugural plaque was unveiled, a wave of applause and cheers erupted from our proud employees, celebrating their tireless efforts and the birth of France's first Gigafactory, a truly memorable moment.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our distinguished guests, including Ola Källenius, Patrick Pouyanné, Carlos Tavares, Xavier Bertrand, Bruno Le Maire, Volker Wissing, Adolfo Urso, and Agnès Pannier-Runacher, for gracing us with their presence and delivering inspiring speeches. We also thank the dedicated teams and journalists who captured this momentous occasion, spreading the news far and wide.

Relive the electrifying highlights of the inauguration through the video below! 

Finally, we'd like to thank everyone who took part in this grand inauguration - thank you for your smiles, your enthusiasm for the place and your encouragement. 
We're proud of what we've achieved so far, and we'll be working even harder on the next stage of our development: the start of production at Billy-Berclau Douvrin! 

Onwards and upwards!