MEBANE, NC—Sunlight Batteries USA is spending $40 million to build a new battery assembly plant here. The new facility will be equipped with five lithium-ion battery assembly lines, including a fully automated one and one dedicated to large-scale energy storage systems. The facility is expected to create more than 200 jobs.

Sunlight Batteries USA is a subsidiary of the Sunlight Group, headquartered in Athens, Greece. The Mebane facility is part of a $560 million global expansion plan that includes $150 million for increasing the company’s presence in the U.S. market.

“We are truly excited to continue our expansion in the U.S., and specifically North Carolina, which represents another milestone in Sunlight’s ambitious growth plans for the Americas region,” says Todd Sechrist, CEO of Sunlight Batteries USA. “The fully owned 134,000 square foot facility—with an additional 100,000 square foot expansion pad—affords Sunlight the ability to serve the growing demand for lithium-ion battery and charger solutions in the U.S.”

In 2021, Sunlight opened a 103,000 square foot facility in Greensboro, NC, focused on lead-acid batteries. The Mebane plant will focus on producing lithium-ion batteries and include state-of-the-art automated laser welding machinery for modules and complete batteries. The automated assembly line will be equipped with interchangeable tools that can be promptly refitted to produce new designs and battery architectures, which significantly reduces changeover time, maximizes effectiveness, and addresses diversified market demands.