Dive Brief:
- Automotive battery giant Clarios unveiled a $6 billion plan on Monday to expand manufacturing across the U.S. over the next 10 years.
- The long-term investment is aimed at strengthening the nation’s minerals supply chain through the expansion of new and existing facilities that make advanced batteries and energy storage technologies not just for cars and trucks, but to support surging artificial intelligence demand as well.
- Clarios is also looking to expand its closed-loop recycling program that recovers minerals like antimony and tin from old batteries to make new batteries, with the goal of reducing U.S. reliance on battery imports from China.
Dive Insight:
Over the past decade, Clarios has invested about $3.5 billion to build out its manufacturing and recycling network, with more than $1 billion deployed in the U.S., according to its investor website.
The company’s latest strategy comes as President Donald Trump wages a tariff war with major trading partners Canada, Mexico and China.
"Now more than ever, America must protect its critical minerals and invest in technology essential to energy independence," Clarios CEO Mark Wallace said in a statement. "With our comprehensive strategy, Clarios is driving a major step forward for America's economic security, national security, and personal security of the American people."
Through 2035, Clarios outlined an investment plan that would commit $2.5 billion to expanding production of advanced batteries, $1.9 billion to support critical minerals processing and recovery and $600 million for existing facility updates.
The plan also included $1 billion for the development of next generation technologies, such as sodium-ion batteries and advanced energy storage for AI, data centers and supercapacitor battery storage systems. The company said its strategy is made possible, in part, by “recent executive orders” and advanced manufacturing credits.
Clarios, founded in 1885, is one of the largest makers of low-voltage battery technologies in the world. According to its website, the Wisconsin-based company supplies enough batteries to be found in one-third of all cars on the road today.
Last fiscal year, Clarios generated $10.6 billion in revenue from selling more than 150 million batteries worldwide, according to its investor website.
The company has 16 manufacturing facilities across the U.S., employing more than 5,500 employees domestically, and is a subsidiary of Brookfield Business Partners.
