Skoda begins large-scale MEB+ LFP battery production

Skoda Auto has launched MEB+ battery production in Mladá Boleslav, using LFP chemistry and cell-to-pack technology for VW Group EV models.

Škoda Auto has launched large-scale in-house production of traction batteries for electric vehicles in Mladá Boleslav, marking a significant step in its transformation within the Volkswagen Group’s electrification strategy. The new facility is designed to manufacture up to 1,122 battery systems per day, which corresponds to an annual capacity of up to 335,000 units.

The production is based on the upgraded MEB+ architecture, gradually succeeding the original MEB platform. The key technological shift lies in the adoption of lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) chemistry and the implementation of the cell-to-pack principle. Instead of assembling modules first, battery cells are integrated directly into the pack, eliminating an intermediate step. Industry analyses describe this approach as improving packaging efficiency while simplifying overall design.

The move away from nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) chemistry reflects a broader industry trend. LFP batteries contain neither nickel nor cobalt and are regarded as more thermally stable, making them particularly suited to high-volume applications. NMC remains preferable where higher energy density is required, but LFP is increasingly positioned as a cost-efficient solution for mainstream electric mobility.

The new plant stands out for its high level of automation. Robots perform around 85% of all operations. Each day, the facility processes approximately 234,000 battery cells, produces around 9,000 stacks and completes more than 936,000 welds. Quality control and fire safety are monitored by 270 cameras, while the automated warehouse can store up to 1.2 million cells in 5,000 containers.

The assembly process integrates eight stacks into an aluminium frame, applies a two-component adhesive with a defined processing window and completes final sealing using a thermally conductive compound. Every finished battery undergoes electrical and pressure testing, with all parameters recorded to ensure full traceability.

Škoda began producing battery systems in 2019, initially for plug-in hybrid models such as the Superb iV. Since 2022, battery systems for fully electric MEB-based vehicles have been assembled in Mladá Boleslav. Today, these systems are installed not only in the Škoda Enyaq and Škoda Elroq, but also in models from other Volkswagen Group brands.

The battery systems facility represents an investment of €205 million and covers 55,000 square metres. Built in less than a year, it reinforces Mladá Boleslav’s position as a central hub in the Group’s European electrification network at a time when Škoda delivers more than one million vehicles annually.