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Microvast Responds to DOE Decision to Withdraw Separator Grant
STAFFORD, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Microvast Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: MVST) (“Microvast” or the “Company”), a technology innovator that designs, develops, and
About this update from Microvast Holdings, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":" STAFFORD, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nMicrovast Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: MVST) (“Microvast” or the “Company”), a technology innovator that designs, develops, and manufactures lithium-ion battery solutions, responded today to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) recent decision to withdraw its previously announced $200 million separator grant.\n\n\nYang Wu, Microvast’s founder, chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, said “the Company is surprised by the DOE’s decision to withdraw the grant, which was designed to help build a new facility in Kentucky that would employ hundreds of people. Microvast is based in Texas, its shares are traded on Nasdaq, and the operations for our global business are centralized in the U.S. Neither the Chinese government nor the Chinese Communist Party has any ownership in the Company, nor do they control or influence Company operations in any way. The Company is therefore considering all of its options.”\n\n\nIn the meantime, the Company intends to continue to invest significantly in its U.S. expansion, according to Mr. Wu, who is an American citizen. “The withdrawal of the DOE grant will have no impact on our expansion plans already underway for cell manufacturing” he said. “We remain on track to increase the number of employees we have in the U.S., and we re-affirm our commitment to help the U.S. expand its battery supply chain and manufacturing initiatives. The DOE decision does not alter our plans to commercialize our polyaramid separator. We will continue to invest in a pilot line that will add 10 million square meters of capacity this year. Naturally, there will be some timing impact on bringing the separator technology to market, given this decision came as a surprise to us.”\n\n\n“Our priority remains completing our battery manufacturing facility in Clarksville, Tennessee. We are about half-way through our over $300 million investment in the plant,” said Craig Webster, Microvast’s Chief Financial Officer. “This facility is a key business focus for us and will be a key contributor to our growth in the coming years. The DOE decision does not impact our previously provided financial guidance. Based on our backlog of orders, we expect revenue in the U.S this year to be in excess of $100 million. The decision also has no impact on our liquidity position, and in fact, it gives us more fle...