Debrecen (Hungary) cathode plant by EcoPro BM: status and timeline

Milestones

Next · NCA-Mn line conversion and German customer supply begins

Groundbreaking in Debrecen2023Complete.
Line 1 commercial output beginsJun 2026Complete.
Line 2 commercial output beginsSep 2026Complete.
NCA-Mn line conversion and German customer supply beginsTarget Q4 2027Not yet reached.

Most important updates

EcoPro BM invests $29M to convert a cathode line to produce NCA-manganese for German automakerAug 2026
EcoPro BM Debrecen plant begins commercial cathode production, first shipments to EuropeJun 2026

Upcoming

Q4 2027NCA-Mn line conversion and German customer supply begins (next)

Current obstacles

Manganese degradationManganese additions lower cost but can accelerate battery degradation. The NCA-Mn line development suggests EcoPro has mitigated this risk.

Physics limits

Nickel supplyUltra-high-nickel cathodes are nickel-limited. EcoPro sources nickel from BNSI, an Indonesian joint venture smelter, to secure supply.
Energy density trade-offHigher nickel content improves Wh/kg but raises material cost and slightly reduces thermal safety margin.

How it works

3 parts

High-nickel synthesis

Precision cathode chemistry

Synthesizes nickel-rich cathodes from precursor oxides, optimizing composition for energy density and cycle life with >90% nickel.

Integrated lithium

On-site lithium processing

Debrecen processes lithium on-site for purity control, reducing supply-chain risk and improving synthesis consistency.

Flexible lines

NCA, NCM, custom variants

Three parallel production lines allow different chemistries per OEM without cross-contamination.

Spec sheet

Spec	Debrecen (Hungary) cathode plant
Total annual cathode capacity	54,000 tonnes^R (reported)
2026 production run-rate	10,000 tonnes^R (reported)
2027 production target	30,000 tonnes^R (reported)
Nickel content in cathodes	>90%^R (reported)
Annual EV battery supply potential	600,000 vehicles^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

2 updates

Aug 2026

Major: EcoPro BM invests $29M to convert a cathode line to produce NCA-manganese for German automakerPressManufacturing

Jun 2026

Major: EcoPro BM Debrecen plant begins commercial cathode production, first shipments to EuropePressManufacturing

About EcoPro BM

The team behind Debrecen (Hungary) cathode plant

EcoPro BM

Cathode materials, battery, NCA, NCM, nickel

South Korea's largest maker of high-nickel cathode materials for EV batteries. Founded 2016, supplies Sony and Samsung. Opened Debrecen, Hungary facility (2026) with 54,000 tonnes/year capacity.

Cathode supplier to Sony, Samsung and EV makers with high-nickel NCA and NCM formulations.
Debrecen plant (2026): cathode synthesis, lithium processing, industrial gases at 54 kt/yr capacity.
NCA-manganese line for German automaker from Q4 2027.

ecoprobm.co.kr (opens ecoprobm.co.kr)Company profile →

Founded: 201610 yrs
Headquarters: South Korea
Status: Private
Valuation: private
Works in: MaterialsBattery materials
Coverage: 1 program · 2 updateslatest 1 Aug 2026checked 11 Oct
Customers: Sony (opens sony.com)Ford (opens ford.com)
Partners: Samsung SDI (opens samsungsdi.com)

Spec

Debrecen (Hungary) cathode plant

Total annual cathode capacity

54,000 tonnes^R (reported)

2026 production run-rate

10,000 tonnes^R (reported)

2027 production target

30,000 tonnes^R (reported)

Nickel content in cathodes

>90%^R (reported)

Annual EV battery supply potential

600,000 vehicles^R (reported)