Slovakia

On April 22, InoBat announced that it has produced the first batteries labeled “made in Slovakia” in Voderady.  It has obtained all necessary certifications and initiated the production of the first high-performance cells.

With the production launch in Voderady, Slovakia joins Sweden, Norway, Germany, and France as the fifth European country capable of producing certified battery cells with European know-how. 

In recent months, InoBat has also expanded its personnel. InoBat initially requalified its workers within the existing research and development center in Voderady, where a pilot battery production line is located. 

The established educational and requalification processes are planned to be implemented in the planned gigafactory in Šurany, a joint project of InoBat and the Chinese company Gotion High-Tech (GIB – Gotion InoBat Batteries). 

Based on InoBat press release 

On April 8, the European Commission approved Slovakia's EUR 267 million aid for Volvo Cars, aligning with EU State aid rules. The investment will support in setting up of a new production plant for electric passenger vehicles in Valaliky near Košice, Eastern Slovakia. 

Volvo Cars will invest EUR 1.2 billion in the establishment of a new electric passenger vehicles production plant, which will be the third production facility of Volvo Cars in Europe. The plant expects to have an initial annual capacity of approximately 250,000 EVs, generating at least 3,300 direct jobs, as well as further indirect jobs. The project aims to be climate-neutral from the start of production and to offer only electric vehicles.

Based on European Commission press release

Continental AG (Continental) has acquired the mold manufacturing specialist EMT s.r.o., based in Puchov, Slovakia. All shares of EMT together with its 107 employees became part of Continental's tire business effective April 2, 2024.

EMT is a manufacturer of special tire molds, especially for commercial vehicle and specialty tires. It specializes in the milling of molds made of steel. Molds are used in tire construction, providing the desired stability and shape during the vulcanization of tires.

This acquisition completes Continental’s internal portfolio for mold making technologies, allowing it to independently produce tire molds for all applications if required.

(From a press release dated April 8, 2024)