US solid-state battery developer Factorial Energy has appointed Dieter Zetsche to its board of directors, as the company prepares for commercial scale-up and a planned transition to the public markets.
The appointment will take effect following the completion of Factorial’s previously announced business combination with Cartesian Growth Corporation III, which is expected to take the company public.
Zetsche, who has been an investor and advisor to Factorial since 2021, will join the board of the combined entity as it moves from development milestones towards industrialisation and commercial execution.
Factorial chief executive Siyu Huang said: “Working alongside Dr. Zetsche as an early investor and advisor has been one of the most valuable experiences in Factorial’s journey… his decision to join our Board… reflects our shared commitment to bringing solid-state battery technology to the world.”
Zetsche’s global expansion of Mercedes-Benz
Zetsche brings automotive and public-company experience, having served as chairman of the board of management at Daimler AG from 2006 to 2019, where he oversaw the global expansion of the Mercedes-Benz brand.
Factorial said the appointment strengthens its governance and operational capabilities as it scales production of its solid-state battery technology. The company is targeting commercial deployment of its cells with automotive OEM partners, positioning its proprietary solid electrolyte systems as a route to higher energy density and improved safety compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries.
The board addition comes at a critical stage for the company, as it shifts focus from technical validation to large-scale manufacturing and market entry, while navigating the regulatory and financial requirements of becoming a publicly listed business.
