(June 9, 2022) Volkswagen of America (VWoA) has opened its Battery Engineering Lab (BEL) in Chattanooga, Tenn., to test and optimize batteries for all electric vehicles in the American marketplace. By developing critical battery expertise in-house, the $22 million, 32,000 square foot facility will enable Volkswagen to gain a competitive edge in the push to electric mobility.

Coupled with the $800 million factory electrification in Chattanooga, the opening of the BEL is the latest step in Volkswagen’s $7.1 billion commitment to boost its product portfolio, R&D, and manufacturing capabilities in the North American region. The first American-assembled Volkswagen EV, the ID.4 compact SUV, is poised to roll off the assembly line in 2022.  

“When we began making investments in electrification, it was because we saw a future for our industry and the North American region in which Volkswagen could take a leadership position,” said Scott Keogh, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. “The Battery Engineering Lab helps make that vision a reality today, accelerating us decades into the future with advanced battery engineering to support our expanding EV push in North America.”



The BEL is the first facility of its kind for Volkswagen of America and one of four strategically located units in the Volkswagen Group globally, with one in Germany (Braunschweig) and two in China (Shanghai, Changchun). Engineers will initially focus on batteries and battery packs for Volkswagen’s MEB vehicle platform, with the potential to incorporate various types for all vehicle brands across the Volkswagen Group.

Going forward, Volkswagen aims to look at emerging battery technologies and get an early understanding of how new concepts and prototypes can withstand the company’s rigid specifications. These insights are crucial know-how, as battery technologies continue to improve in terms of energy density, weight and cost, and shape the characteristics of an electric vehicle.