Cox Automotive and DHL open UK’s largest EV battery services centre

Cox Automotive and DHL Supply Chain have announced a major partnership to deliver in-life EV battery services for global manufacturers and fleet operators, establishing the UK’s largest battery management and maintenance operation. The collaboration will see a dedicated EV battery services facility open within DHL’s 146,000-square-foot EV Centre of Excellence in Rugby.

Cox Automotive will provide triage, repair, and remanufacturing services, supported by DHL’s expertise in logistics and storage. The facility will cater to batteries both within and beyond their warranty periods, addressing the growing demand for EV battery servicing infrastructure.

Martin Forbes, president of Cox Automotive International, said: “As the automotive industry attempts to balance government mandates, consumer concerns about the durability of EVs, and a lack of technical expertise, the market requires tangible solutions and infrastructure to address barriers to EV adoption. With 35,000 square feet of dedicated battery repair space, we can deliver vital battery services to customers under one roof. In addition, this new facility provides our customers with a unique EV handling service as it complements our existing vehicle services location just 13 miles away in Bruntingthorpe.”

Paul Stone, managing director of manufacturing logistics at DHL Supply Chain, added: “Handling, transporting and storing EV batteries is a complex process, presenting some unique challenges. We’ve been listening and working with the industry to create a more robust end-to-end solution for the EV batteries that effectively and reliably addresses challenges for manufacturers and fleets. Today, alongside Cox Automotive, we are setting the new standard for EV battery circularity and this cooperation represents a major step forward in creating a scalable circular economy for batteries in the UK.”

The launch of EV Battery Solutions in the UK follows Cox Automotive’s introduction of the business in the United States and Europe, three years after its acquisition of Spiers New Technologies (SNT) in 2021. The Rugby facility includes 35,000 square feet of dedicated EV battery repair space, capable of handling thousands of batteries annually.