Japanese battery maker Envision AESC has paused construction on its electric-vehicle battery plant in Florence, South Carolina. The company cited “policy and market uncertainty” as the reason for the delay. Groundbreaking took place in late 2022, and Envision AESC has already invested $1 billion in the project.
“We expect to resume construction once conditions improve,” said company spokesperson Brad Grantham in a statement.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, a supporter of President Donald Trump’s trade policies, expressed understanding of the pause. “We hate to see that happen, but a pause is OK,” McMaster said. He compared it to Volvo’s recent short-lived production halt caused by an auto parts shortage but noted that restarting a billion-dollar factory is a more complex task. Still, he encouraged residents to “relax.”
The Florence plant is planned to produce battery cells for BMW. BMW will assemble these cells at its own $700 million battery facility nearby in Woodruff, South Carolina. In 2022, BMW also signed an agreement with Envision AESC to supply batteries for its Spartanburg plant, where it is investing $1 billion to expand electric vehicle production.
Related topics：
- Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Impact Fastener Suppliers, Prices Rise
- Pliant Technologies Expands CrewCom with Dante Interface & Battery Charger
- Electra Battery Materials Advances Battery Recycling with Feasibility Study
