MLADA BOLESLAV in Czech Republic (Reuters). Skoda is a Czech automaker owned by Volkswagen (ETR) and it believes that the parent company will make a decision by 2023 on the fourth largest battery factory in Europe, according to a member of its management board.

Wolfsburg-based Volkswagen said in October it intended to make a decision in the first half 2022 about the location of a battery cell plant in Eastern Europe. It would be the fourth in its six planned sites in Europe.

“The decision will be taken in Wolfsburg in Germany,” Michael Oeljeklaus, Skoda’s management board member for production and logistics, said.

“We believe and hope that this decision will come in late fall, possibly next year… We expect that VW will make a favorable decision for the Czech Republic.”

Volkswagen stated that Hungary, Poland and Slovakia are in contention for the Eastern European Battery Factory, which will be open in 2027.