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Battery manufacturer CustomCells closes factory in Tübingen – 68 jobs gone!
The insolvency of the battery manufacturer CustomCells leads to the closure of the factory in Tübingen and the dismissal of all employees.
Battery manufacturer CustomCells closes factory in Tübingen – 68 jobs gone!
Today, a serious loss is being felt in the German battery world. CustomCells, an established battery manufacturer, filed for bankruptcy on July 12, 2025, primarily due to non-payment by Lilium. According to merkur.de, the headquarters in Itzehoe is spared from the difficulties because new investors have been found. They take over the operation and secure 80 percent of the jobs on site. But the good news has a bitter aftertaste: the plant in Tübingen, where a pilot plant for the development of new round cell batteries was planned, will be closed and all 68 employees will have to leave.
The insolvency was initiated by the provisional insolvency administrator Dr. Malte Köster announced. He emphasizes the stable prospects for the future of the company in Itzehoe, where they would like to get back on their feet. But things seem bleak for Tübingen: despite previous funding from the state of Baden-Württemberg amounting to eight million euros, research in the region is on the verge of extinction.
Difficult circumstances and insightful lessons
The reason for the bankruptcy is not just a mishap: the financial difficulties are a direct result of the bankruptcy and insolvency of Lilium, CustomCells' largest customer. The missing payments are in the double-digit million range, which represents a massive challenge for the company. According to the website customcells.com, the search for new investors in recent months was not successful because the company could not be provided with sufficient capital in a timely manner. Attempts to provide support from regional, federal and EU institutions remained fruitless.
Since its founding in 2012 as a spin-off from the Fraunhofer Society, CustomCells has specialized in the development of tailor-made high-performance battery cells. With over 200 employees, the company plays a key role in German battery technology. It now remains to be seen whether the challenges posed by the bankruptcy will trigger a rethink in the sector.
The growing importance of battery production in Europe
The situation at CustomCells is part of a larger problem that also affects other manufacturers such as Northvolt, which have also run into difficulties in recent months. Experts warn that production capacity for electric car batteries in Europe remains inadequate. An article on stuttgarter-nachrichten.de highlights that car manufacturers such as Porsche, VW and Mercedes now face the challenge of finding new suppliers for batteries. This market situation shows how important independent production is in Europe, which is currently threatened by uncertain economic conditions and the bankruptcies of start-ups like Northvolt.
It remains exciting for the industry to see whether the players can learn from the crisis and develop strategies together to get the challenges in battery production under control. One thing is certain: the next few months will be crucial for the future of battery production in Germany and beyond.