Cellcentric appoints Kai Woerner as COO and Managing Director

Kai Woerner has been appointed Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of cellcentric, effective January 2026.

Cellcentric, the 50:50 fuel cell joint venture of Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group (launched in 2021) has announced a change in its management board with the appointment of Kai Woerner as COO. The move comes as the company continues its transition from development activities toward industrial-scale manufacturing of fuel cell systems for heavy-duty applications.

Daimler Buses has started test drives of its first Setra coach equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell drive, named the technology carrier “H2 Coach”, they announced in 2025. Cellcentric is developing new fuel cell system tailored for long-haul trucks and is planning fuel cell production factory in Weilheim (Germany), reports our sister platform SustainableTruck&Van.

Kai Woerner appointed COO and Managing Director at cellcentric

Woerner brings extensive international experience in industrial operations and manufacturing ramp-up. Most recently, he has been serving as Chief Operating Officer for North America and Europe at AESC, a global supplier of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems. In this role, he has overseen operations across both regions during a phase of rapid capacity expansion.

Before joining AESC, Woerner was Head of Global Manufacturing at Volkswagen’s battery subsidiary PowerCo, where he was responsible for global production systems and the industrialisation of lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing. Earlier in his career, he held several senior management roles at Bosch, including plant manager positions in Charleston, South Carolina, and Hildesheim, Germany, as well as responsibilities in process and machine development at the Bamberg site.

“I am delighted to be able to contribute my experience and ideas to cellcentric as Chief Operating Officer. cellcentric has a compelling structure for the successful industrialization and market leadership of fuel cells for heavy-duty applications,” says Kai Woerner. “Both globally active partners of the joint venture – Daimler Truck and Volvo Group – are known for their focus on strong innovations and long-term visions for sustainable transport, underpinned by exceptional financial strength and their depth in R&D and process development.” This makes the corporate environment at cellcentric very promising for the successful industrialization of advanced heavy-duty fuel cell systems.

“Furthermore, cellcentric’s product and philosophy are an excellent fit for the Stuttgart region with its high-quality university environment, renowned suppliers, and vast expertise in mechanical and automotive engineering,” summarizes Kai Woerner. “cellcentric is actively contributing to the decarbonization and sustainability of heavy-duty long-haul freight and other heavy-duty applications. More than 560 employees are playing a key role in shaping the future of fuel cell-electric powertrains – with cellcentric, the European transport industry has the opportunity to set standards in this field. I’m very happy to be part of this team now!”

Nicholas Loughlan, Managing Director (CTO) and Spokesperson of the cellcentric Management Board, says: “We are delighted that Kai joins us at cellcentric! His huge and also broad experience in the field of production and production technology will be a fantastic asset for cellcentric. We are happy to have him with cellcentric and in the management board of our company, joining Niklas Ekstroem as our CFO, and myself.”