Overview

• Cellforce will operate as an independent research and development unit, with Volkswagen’s PowerCo expected to place development orders and V4Smart drawing on its expertise.
• Roughly two‑thirds of Cellforce jobs are expected to be cut, with Reuters reporting about 200 of nearly 300 roles and Porsche indicating it will manage reductions responsibly and explore transfers to PowerCo.
• Porsche has shelved plans for a Kirchentellinsfurt ‘start‑up factory’ of about 1 GWh annual capacity and a larger second plant, after limited pilot production.
• CEO Oliver Blume and R&D chief Michael Steiner said slower EV uptake and changed conditions in the United States and China, coupled with insufficient volumes, prevent competitive in‑house cell costs.
• The shift is viewed as another setback for Europe’s battery ambitions after Northvolt’s collapse, as Porsche maintains a mixed lineup of EVs, hybrids and combustion models well into the 2030s.