Belgian circular technology group Umicore and Volkswagen Group-backed battery company PowerCo have announced the name and branding of their first-of-its kind cooperation.
Their Brussels-headquartered joint venture for large-scale industrial production of CAM and pCAM in Europe will bear the name IONWAY. Both parties aim to grow IONWAY’s annual production capacity to 160 GWh p.a. by the end of the decade, corresponding to 2.2 m battery-electric vehicles.
IONWAY is designed to supply PowerCo’s European battery cell factories with key battery materials and cover a large part of PowerCo’s EU demand, while providing Umicore with secure access to an important part of the European demand for EV cathode materials.
IONWAY is the first-of-its-kind partnership between a car manufacturer based in Europe and a global leading producer of CAM, producing sustainable battery materials for the EV transition and a zero-emission future. Both parent companies are deeply committed to scaling up the EU footprint in the e-mobility business by establishing regional, sustainable and transparent battery supply chains.
Cathode active materials are the key technological lever for battery performance; they are the single biggest contributor to overall battery cost and define its carbon footprint. They are thus strategically important input materials central to battery value creation, and crucial for a successful powertrain transition towards sustainable e-mobility.
IONWAY will combine the resources and know-how that propel this transition and make sustainable progress accessible, banding together to build a new momentum with high- performance battery technology in a powerful partnership.
Umicore-CEO Mathias Miedreich: “IONWAY is a start-up with a significant head start, because our partnership is built on solid foundations with Volkswagen’s PowerCo and Umicore, key players in the electric mobility transformation. IONWAY will no doubt grow into an industry reference in e-mobility, boosting innovation, creating hundreds of highly skilled jobs, and will make the energy transition happen.”
PowerCo-CEO Frank Blome: “Through IONWAY, PowerCo reaches another milestone of our strategy to vertically integrate the battery supply chain. Together with our trusted partner Umicore, we source our own key cell production materials at reasonable prices. Secure access allows PowerCo to supply cost-competitive battery cells to Volkswagen Group for years to come ‒ enabling its brands to offer attractive, affordable EVs to its customers.”
IONWAY-CEO Thomas Jansseune: “The foundation of IONWAY sends a strong signal for the roll- out of battery cell technology in Europe. We believe this company will provide some important building blocks in helping the European Union to achieve its Green Deal ambitions.”
Thomas Jansseune has taken the helm as IONWAY’s first Chief Executive Officer on 1 July 2023, following 22 years at Umicore. In his last role, he led Umicore’s New Business Incubation with projects in venture capital, solid-state batteries, decarbonisation, battery recycling, and hydrogen electrolysis. Prior to that, he was in charge of Corporate Development, held roles in marketing and sales, and served as managing director of a precious metals refining plant. Jansseune holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering.
CFO Achim Holzer joined IONWAY from Volkswagen Group Technology where he served as Head of Value Engineering & Central Purchasing Functions. Before he was Head of Value Engineering at AUDI. Holzer holds a doctoral degree in economics from University of Passau.
