June 18, 2025 — According to The Wall Street Journal, several global battery manufacturers are adjusting their investment plans in the U.S. due to increasing policy uncertainty and a slowdown in electric vehicle (EV) market growth. Among them, Envision AESC has announced a strategic shift to prioritize energy storage systems (ESS) while temporarily pausing its EV battery project in South Carolina.
In a statement to the media, Envision AESC emphasized that it is actively optimizing its U.S. strategy in response to evolving policy dynamics:
“Given the complexity and uncertainty of U.S. policy developments, we are accelerating our energy storage deployment and temporarily pausing our EV battery timeline. Meanwhile, we will flexibly allocate global capacity to ensure steady supply to key customers, including BMW, across North America and worldwide.”
As part of this shift, the company’s Tennessee plant officially began producing energy storage cells in April 2025, making it the first operational ESS cell factory in the entire North American market. The facility is now ramping up quickly to deliver high-performance storage solutions to top-tier integrators, addressing surging demand in North America for advanced energy storage technologies.
Envision AESC is among the first companies globally to mass-produce 300+Ah and 500+Ah storage cells, with overseas ESS shipments ranking among the top three globally in 2024.
Regarding the previously announced South Carolina plant, which was set to manufacture next-gen 46-series cylindrical cells for BMW, Envision confirmed that stable deliveries will now be maintained through its global manufacturing network. Production of the 46-series battery has already started at its Wuxi-Jiangyin gigafactory in China, with shipments underway to support BMW’s global EV platforms.
The 46-series cells—considered the core power source for BMW’s next-generation all-electric models—will continue to be produced across Envision’s worldwide facilities. In response to increasing demand, the company is currently scaling up its Cangzhou Gigafactory in China with higher-efficiency production lines, expected to reach volume production in the second half of 2025.
BMW first selected Envision AESC as its core battery partner for the next-gen EV platform in October 2022, with collaborative models covering key global markets. These include the X7, X3, and North American/LATAM-focused X5 and X6.
Meanwhile, Envision’s global production footprint continues to expand. The company now operates battery factories in China, Japan, the U.S., the UK, France, and Spain, serving major EV and storage clients worldwide. Within the past year alone, Envision successfully launched production at its Cangzhou (China), Ibaraki (Japan), and Douai (France) gigafactories.
The Douai Gigafactory recently celebrated its launch, with its batteries powering Renault’s R5, which has become a top-selling EV in Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron personally attended the inauguration, highlighting the factory’s strategic importance. This marks Envision’s ninth gigafactory worldwide, and one of the few in Europe with local mass-production capabilities.
In May 2025, the company also confirmed successful financing for its Sunderland Gigafactory in the UK, which is scheduled to begin production in the second half of 2025. This site will provide high-performance batteries for major customers like Nissan.
Conclusion:
Envision AESC’s strategic agility—pivoting toward energy storage, leveraging a robust global capacity network, and advancing large-scale production in North America and Europe—demonstrates its leadership in the global battery industry. As policies evolve and demand diversifies, Envision continues to deliver long-term value and supply assurance for both EV and ESS markets.
