The Italian charging station manufacturer Alpitronic has chosen Charlotte in the US state of North Carolina for its North American headquarters. Alpitronic will invest $9.3 mn there and create 300 jobs.
This is according to an announcement by the city of Charlotte. Specifically, Alpitronic Americas Inc. will be based in the Westpark Drive industrial park. In addition to its headquarters, the company will also operate a technology, test and repair centre to service its charging stations. However, the announcement does not mention a US production facility. Such a step would be evident in the future, however, since according to the “Buy America” Act, only charging stations with a certain share of US value added qualify for government subsidy programmes. Currently, however, production only occurs at the Bolzano, South Tyrol headquarters.
Most of the 300 new jobs will be product developers, engineers and service technicians. Other positions include various roles in finance and accounting, human resources, IT and sales. According to the city, the average annual salary is expected to be $90,158.
“We’re excited to start our operations for the US in Charlotte,” said Philipp Senoner, CEO of Alpitronic. “Our decision to come to North Carolina, a state which is developing towards an e-mobility cluster, was consciously made based on the economic conditions.” He added they expected strong growth based on its high-performance charging solutions.
North Carolina’s Democratic Governor Roy Cooper also has his say in the announcement. “We’re grateful that Alpitronic has decided to make their US home right here in North Carolina,” he said. “Our state is developing a burgeoning e-mobility supply chain with the support of yet another clean energy company. Our favourable business climate, reliable transportation network, and skilled talent help global companies fuel their growth.”
North Carolina is indeed among the states that scored investments from the e-mobility sector, also spurred by federal policies. Finland’s Kempower is among the European companies setting up shop in NC. British van maker Arrival has also opted for Charlotte but has had financial difficulty lately. Vinfast has also pushed back plans for its facility in North Carolina, saying operations would begin by 2025. Albemarle Corporation, however, is on track to establish a 200-person lithium technology centre in Charlotte. The city is already home to the ‘North Carolina Battery Complexity, Autonomous Vehicle and Electrification Research Center,’ or BATT CAVE for short. The centre focuses on next-generation batteries’ safety, durability, vehicle integration and recyclability.
“UNC Charlotte is excited about the opportunity to partner with alpitronic America as the company locates its operations in Charlotte,” said UNC Charlotte Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber.
Alpitronic, based in Bolzano, was founded in 2009 and is best known in the industry for its Hypercharger fast charging stations. The company develops not only the hardware but also the software in-house. In the HPC expansion in Europe, the Hypercharger has become one of the most sought-after and widespread ultra-rapid charging stations.
Keyword: Italian HPC specialist Alpitronic opts for new HQ in North Carolina