»Handelsblatt«: SMA considers returning production to North America

According to an advance report, the German »Handelsblatt« newspaper reports in today's edition (August 30) that German inverter and system technology provider SMA Solar Technology AG is considering establishing a production site in North America. The decision is expected to be made as early as the next few weeks. The company is »currently reviewing options to best benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in the U.S.,« a spokeswoman is quoted.
SMA had opened a factory in Denver, Colorado, in 2010 (photo). In August 2016, however, this site with around 280 jobs was closed again due to the company's major difficulties at the time, as was a plant in South Africa. The U.S. market was subsequently supplied by SMA factories in Germany and China. The latter were a joint venture with China’s Zeversolar, which was terminated in 2018.
The U.S., where subsidies granted under the IRA have already led to numerous relocation and expansion plans, not only in the solar industry, is an important sales market for SMA. Just under 20 percent of sales in the first half of 2023 were generated in North and South America. In this respect, transport and logistics are also likely to play a significant role in the decision on a possible return of production there. However, with a 75 percent share of sales, Germany and Europe dominate SMA’s business.
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