Thousands of the insolvent battery manufacturer Northvolt lose their jobs in Sweden. The company can be continued as part of the bankruptcy, but only around 1700 of the previous 5000 Northvolt employees will remain in Sweden.
“There are also employees in foreign subsidiaries,” said a message from the insolvency administrator Mikael Kubu, among other things with a view to the German daughter. Kubu did not provide any information about the future of the Northvolt factory near Heide in Schleswig-Holstein.
Heavy blow to the main plant in northern Sweden
According to the Swedish broadcaster SVT, 2800 employees lose their jobs. The Northvolt stem in northern Swedish Skellefteå should be particularly hard: While Kubu did not give any numbers, media spoke of the fact that only 1200 of the 3000 employees there should be left in order to keep the plant operation. For the small community in the sparsely populated north of Sweden, the announcement is a difficult blow – Northvolt was one of the region’s most important industrial companies there.
From the hopeful to the economic problem child
Northvolt was a great hope for the European automotive industry for a long time as a producer of the batteries for electric cars. After initiating an expansion course, several setbacks such as the withdrawal of a billion -dollar order for battery cells by the car manufacturer BMW As well as increasing debts, the group had to row back vigorously.
In September 2024, Northvolt initially announced that it was estimated to relieve 1600 employees in Sweden and put several expansion plans on hold. The company applied for two months later Creditor protection in the United States And hoped for a successful restructuring process. Then, however, made it in mid -March due to persistent financing problems Application for bankruptcy in Sweden.
Since then, the Swedish Northvolt employees have been worried about whether the lights run out of them. Kubu wrote: “Despite large cuts, it is positive that the operation can continue to a certain extent, which is probably crucial for being able to sell the company in whole or in part.”