Ouest France had let the cat out of the bag several months ago. The young car manufacturer, Hopium, has eventually announced last month that it will establish in Vernon, at the gateway to Normandy, a region chosen for its ecosystem.

This strategic choice is part of the company’s ambition to develop its hydrogen-powered saloon models in France, Hopium explains. The 35-hectare site will be located in the town of Douains. This small village of 500 inhabitants must be delighted to welcome an industrialist as 1,500 jobs are at stake. The site will house a factory (the first production lines will have a capacity of up to 20,000 vehicles per year), as well as an R&D centre.

The infrastructure will be put to use at the end of 2024 and the inauguration is scheduled for early 2025.

“We chose Normandy as we believe it is a region possessing all the assets needed to host the factory of the future, starting with its unique geographical position between Paris and the English Channel, reinforced by the Seine Axis, its industrial basin as well as the highly innovative nature of the region, which we are contributing to.” says Olivier Lombard, CEO of Hopium. “This establishment is excellent news for Normandy and is further proof of the economic dynamism of our region. This project will also contribute to the development of the Normandy hydrogen industry”, comments Hervé Morin, President of the region.

Do you want to learn more about Hopium? You can read our latest article on the topic here. 

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Article written by Laurent Meillaud, translated by Logan King and reviewed by Marina Leite.