A severe blow is imminent for the Porsche battery subsidiary in Stuttgart. According to research by “Spiegel,” Cellforce is facing almost complete closure. The project, which began as a strategic step into the world of battery cells, is now culminating in a mass layoff. Around 200 of 286 employees are expected to lose their jobs. At most, a small research and development unit could remain at the Kirchentellinsfurt site. The Reutlingen employment agency has already received notification of the mass layoff. (spiegel: 20.08.25)
Change of course at Cellforce
Porsche did not comment on the events. However, at the end of April, the company announced that it would not continue operating the Porsche battery subsidiary independently. Talks with potential investors were ongoing in the summer. Representatives from BMW visited Kirchentellinsfurt, and defense companies expressed interest in Cellforce components for developing battery cells for military drones. BMW did not comment on the talks.
The demise of Cellforce represents a drastic break for Porsche. CEO Oliver Blume originally wanted to position the sports car manufacturer as an electric pioneer with its own battery cell production. Now a setback is looming that will also impact the Volkswagen Group. Depreciation of production facilities totals €295 million. Billions of euros have reportedly been invested in the Porsche battery subsidiary since 2021, but a series-ready battery cell has never been produced.
Mass layoffs hit employees hard
All employees are invited to a general meeting next Monday. Head of Development Michael Steiner will address the staff there. Many employees fear job loss, as Cellforce—unlike its parent company—doesn’t offer employment guarantees. A works council election is planned, but won’t take place until September. “No mass layoffs before a works council is elected,” demands Kai Lamparter of the IG Metall union in Reutlingen.
Politicians are also reacting with alarm. State Premier Winfried Kretschmann summoned Blume to the State Ministry on the same day. The state of Baden-Württemberg supported Porsche’s battery subsidiary Cellforce with tens of millions of euros. Given the failure, the funding could now be repaid.
Billion-dollar project without battery cell success
The scale of the failure is enormous. Porsche invested heavily in battery cells, considered the heart of electromobility. But the decisive breakthrough never materialized. For Blume, who also heads Volkswagen, the failure of the Porsche battery subsidiary represents a significant loss of reputation. While competitors are expanding their battery cell production, Porsche now lacks its own manufacturer.
The mass layoffs at Cellforce represent a significant burden for the region around Reutlingen and Tübingen. Hundreds of highly qualified specialists are seeking new opportunities. At the same time, political funding programs for future technologies are coming under pressure. The demise of Cellforce demonstrates how risky multi-billion dollar projects can be without a secure technological foundation.