US battery startup that ditched Kentucky for China opens factory as Trump, Xi meet

EnerVenue, a US battery startup, has shifted its first factory production from Kentucky to China, according to Reuters. The company's decision comes as President Donald Trump welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping for a summit in Washington. EnerVenue's Chief Executive Henning Rath explained that the move was due to the company's skills and supply chain depth, particularly in Changzhou, China, which is considered the "new energy capital" of the country.

Rath cited the density of hydraulics, pneumatics, and automation specialists, as well as engineers able to iterate quickly on a "first-of-its-kind" line. Without manufacturing in China, Rath said, it would be difficult to prove the manufacturing process at a commercial scale with the available capital. While EnerVenue aims to open similar factories in North America, the Middle East, and Europe by 2028, the company believes China is the "factory of factories" and an essential stepping stone towards global production.

Rath also mentioned that the company raised over $300 million in a March funding round led by Full Vision Capital, including investors like Saudi Aramco and SLB.