ADVANCED ELECTRONICS RDI

The project support the promoter's investments in research and development (R&D) related to power and comfort electronics, drive and comfort controls for automotive applications.

The R&D activities will support innovative technologies, partially for application in electric vehicles. In particular, the objective is to support the promoter's "Energy and Empathy" strategy and further the platform strategy through standardised and configurable solutions that enable faster and easier application development and integration.

The project concerns the development of products, processes and technologies spanning power and comfort electronics drive and comfort controls for the automotive sector. The project investments related to power electronics concern the development of electric vehicles technologies and cover developments of platforms, modules and technologies as well as products for specific applications. It will contribute to further knowledge creation, accumulation and diffusion and will support the development of a relevant ecosystem of technology companies and the necessary skills through reskilling and upskilling of existing employees. It contributes to EIB's "Innovation, Digital and Human Capital" policy objective and to EIB Climate Action and Environmental Sustainability policy objective. EIB financing supports the promoter's investments addressing market failures and gaps associated with imperfect competition and incomplete markets for innovative and still market-entry-stage vehicle electrification technologies, and those addressed by projects with positive knowledge and environmental externalities generation. 

The promoter's R&D capability, its focus on R&D, innovation and sustainability, its technology edge, system integration capability, along with its experienced management will help implement a sound and sustainable project, integrating positive environmental and social dimensions, contribute to address and mitigate market failures, and through its additionality, contribute to the Bank's policy objectives.

The Bank's contribution to the project is underpinned by a combination of advantageous terms, a meaningful loan amount, flexible drawdown terms as well as catalysing effect on crowding-in other financiers, thereby facilitating the project's financing and full implementation and diversifying the company`s financing sources.

The Bank's technical contribution and advice is mainly explained by the guidance provided to align the project scope with policy objectives at project origination.

The project R&D activities do not fall under the Annexes of the EU Directive 2014/52/EU amending the EIA Directive 2011/92/EU. Therefore, the activities are not subject to a mandatory environmental impact assessment (EIA).

The Promoter is a private company not operating in the utilities sector and not having the status of a contracting entity, and thus is not subject to EU rules on public procurement. Under these conditions, the procurement procedures followed by the Promoter are suitable for the project.

Borrower: KOSTAL AUTOMOBIL ELEKTRIK GMBH & CO KG