KREISEL Electric, a John Deere Subsidiary, Breaks Ground on Battery and Charger Manufacturing Facility in North Carolina

Kernersville, NC, USA - September 27, 2023: KREISEL Electric, a subsidiary of Deere & Company, has marked a momentous milestone with the official commencement of construction on its advanced manufacturing facility in Kernersville, North Carolina. The groundbreaking ceremony, announced today via LinkedIn, follows a press release issued on August 15, which unveiled plans for this facility. This 115,000-square-foot facility signals a significant leap in KREISEL's capacity to serve the North American off-highway market with cutting-edge battery systems and CHIMERO chargers.

The decision to establish this manufacturing hub underscores Deere & Company's commitment to advancing sustainable and innovative solutions in the electric vehicle industry. The facility is a testament to their dedication to staying at the forefront of electrification technology.

KREISEL Electric, which became a majority-owned subsidiary of John Deere in 2022, is renowned for its groundbreaking battery technology for electric mobility and stationary systems, as well as Level 3 charging solutions. With the new manufacturing facility, KREISEL is poised to make significant strides in meeting the growing demand for these technologies.

The facility is expected to support a production capacity of up to 2 GWh, making it a vital hub for the production of Kreisel battery packs and CHIMERO chargers. Production is estimated to commence in 2025 after the groundbreaking ceremony held today.

Jennifer Preston, Global Director of John Deere Electric Powertrain and CEO of Kreisel, expressed her enthusiasm for this significant development, stating, "Our customers are facing challenges that require their businesses to be more dynamic than ever before — we are engineering the technological innovations they’ll rely on to do so. Together with Kreisel, John Deere is expanding its electrification portfolio to include more scalable solutions to meet a wider range of our customers’ application needs."

This expansion aligns with Deere & Company's ambitious goal to demonstrate viable low- and near-zero-carbon power solutions by 2026, reaffirming their commitment to sustainability.

Pierre Guyot, Senior Vice President of John Deere Power Systems and Chairman of Kreisel Electric, emphasized the strategic importance of this investment. "As the demand for electric solutions continues to increase, this strategic investment in growing our production capacity will help strengthen our position as an international battery technology leader," he stated. "Within the evolving off-highway equipment market, we are prioritizing the development of a robust charging ecosystem and battery portfolio that can support and sustain the long-term adoption of electrification across a wide variety of applications."

The decision to build the manufacturing facility in Kernersville holds historical significance. John Deere has had a presence in the community since the creation of its Kernersville campus in 1988. The town's access to a diverse pool of technical talent and excellent connectivity to infrastructure, including highways, seaports, and airports, made it a compelling choice.

Mark Owens, President and CEO of Greater Winston-Salem, Inc., expressed his support, saying, "The addition of this John Deere battery facility aligns with our county’s efforts to be a leader in advanced manufacturing throughout the Southeast."

This exciting development marks a significant step forward in the electrification of off-highway vehicles, and it reflects Deere & Company's commitment to leading the way in sustainable, alternative energy solutions.