On June 3, Envision AESC, a global leader in battery technology, officially commenced production at its Douai gigafactory in France. French President Emmanuel Macron and Zhang Lei, Chairman of Envision Group, attended the inauguration ceremony.

Envision AESC's high-performance battery technology has already proven its mettle in the European market, powering the Renault R5 to become France's best-selling electric vehicle. With the first phase of the Douai gigafactory now operational at 10GWh capacity, the facility will supply high-quality batteries for 200,000 electric vehicles annually, accelerating Europe's transition to a low-carbon economy.

source: Envision AESC

President Macron emphasized the strategic significance of the project: "Here in Douai, we are writing a new chapter in France's reindustrialization alongside Envision. As a flagship project of 'Choose France,' the Envision AESC Douai gigafactory represents an epochal initiative that combines innovation, development, and sustainability on France's path to green industrial transformation. This will transform a region and impact an entire generation."

In a symbolic gesture during the ceremony, Macron held a miner's lamp from northern France's coal region in his left hand and an Envision AESC battery in his right, illustrating how the Douai factory will transition the region from the "old energy era" to a clean and intelligent "new electric age." He expressed France's gratitude to Envision for driving green development and emphasized that France needs global partners with both ambition and technology like Envision to jointly advance Europe's energy transition and industrial innovation.

Macron later posted on social media: "Some say we must choose between economic growth and sustainability, but we choose both. Some said manufacturing batteries in France was impossible—Envision AESC's Douai factory proves otherwise. We cannot retreat; we must continue moving forward with determination."

Zhang Lei commented: "The successful launch of our French factory accelerates the electrification of European automotive industry. Envision is embodying the concept of 'a community with a shared future for mankind,' bringing global prosperity through China's new energy capabilities."

As one of the earliest battery technology companies to pursue global expansion with comprehensive mainstream market coverage, Envision AESC currently operates 13 battery manufacturing facilities across China, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Spain.