VARTA
German battery company and brand serving automotive, industrial and consumer markets.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
VARTA is a long-established German battery brand focused on battery engineering, reliability and applications spanning automotive, industrial, consumer and emerging electric-mobility markets.
History
VARTA's origins lie in the battery activities established by Adolph Müller in 1887. The enterprise was formally organized in 1904 as a subsidiary of Accumulatoren-Fabrik AFA. Its name became an acronym referring to the distribution, charging and repair of portable accumulators, reflecting the company's early focus on rechargeable battery technology. After the First World War, VARTA and AFA were acquired by Günther Quandt and Carl Hermann Roderbourg. Ownership later became concentrated in the Quandt family, with most of Günther Quandt's holdings passing to his son Herbert Quandt. Germany's postwar division affected the organization: the East Berlin subsidiary was occupied by the Soviet Union and later operated as BAE Batterien. Herbert Quandt reorganized VARTA in 1977. Battery and plastics activities remained under VARTA, while pharmaceutical and specialty-chemical businesses were transferred to Altana and the electrical business was spun off into CEAG. The wider group subsequently underwent extensive divestment. Rayovac acquired VARTA's consumer battery activities, except button cells, in 2002. By 2006, VARTA had sold all operating divisions and the Quandt family had exited its ownership. The remaining company liquidated its operating assets and liabilities, while related businesses moved to new owners. The automotive battery business was acquired by Johnson Controls and later sold to Brookfield Business Partners in 2018. Montana Tech Components acquired the button-cell and home-energy-storage businesses. VARTA then reassembled part of its consumer battery heritage: Energizer took control of the consumer battery segment in 2019, while VARTA agreed that year to buy back the Europe, Middle East and Africa consumer battery operations, with completion in January 2020. VARTA returned to public trading in October 2017 through a Frankfurt Prime Standard offering. In the following years, the company emphasized rechargeable consumer batteries, energy storage and lithium-ion technology. Government support announced in 2020 was intended to help establish electric-vehicle battery production in Germany under the European IPCEI program. VARTA abandoned that project in 2022, citing cost pressures, and announced significant workforce reductions in 2023. Operational and financial problems intensified in 2024. A cyberattack caused a production stoppage lasting about a month and disrupted the company's corporate calendar. VARTA then entered a court-supervised restructuring process under Germany's StaRUG framework. The plan resulted in the loss of existing shareholder equity, debt write-offs by financial creditors and new capital from Porsche and Michael Tojner. The Federal Cartel Office approved Porsche's related participation and its control of the V4Drive Battery unit, which develops large-format lithium-ion cells for electric vehicles. The supplied reference material reports further difficulties in 2026 following the loss of an Apple AirPods battery contract, another restructuring effort and a bankruptcy filing dated 24 July 2026. Those future-dated claims and the company's ultimate legal status require verification against authoritative corporate, court and regulatory records.
- 2026
Reported bankruptcy filing
[1]The supplied reference material reports a bankruptcy filing dated 24 July 2026.
- 2024
Restructuring under StaRUG
[1]VARTA began a major restructuring involving its shareholders, lenders and new investors.
- 2024
Porsche receives regulatory approval for VARTA investment
[1]The Federal Cartel Office approved Porsche's participation in VARTA and control of the V4Drive Battery unit.
- 2022
EV battery project abandoned
[1]VARTA abandoned the supported electric-vehicle battery project as part of cost reduction.
- 2020
Completion of consumer battery acquisition
[1]The acquisition of the EMEA consumer battery business from Energizer was completed.
- 2020
Public support for EV battery facility
[1]German and Baden-Württemberg authorities provided support for a planned electric-vehicle lithium-ion battery production facility.
- 2019
Agreement to reacquire consumer battery business
[1]VARTA agreed to purchase its former consumer battery operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa from Energizer.
- 2017
VARTA returns to public markets
[1]Shares were admitted to the Frankfurt Stock Exchange's Prime Standard segment.
- 2006
Operating divisions divested
[1]VARTA had sold all of its operating divisions and the Quandt family had disposed of its shares.
- 2002
Consumer battery activities sold
[1]Rayovac acquired VARTA's consumer battery business, excluding button cells.
Products and positioning
A long-established German battery brand positioned around battery engineering, reliability and applications spanning automotive, industrial, consumer and emerging electric-mobility markets.
Automotive batteries
VARTA automotive batteries
Automotive batteries are one of the best-known VARTA-associated product areas. The business historically covered starter batteries and related automotive energy products. This activity passed through several ownership changes, including Johnson Controls and Brookfield Business Partners, and should not automatically be treated as identical to every modern VARTA-branded operation.
Consumer batteries
VARTA consumer batteries
The consumer portfolio includes disposable batteries and rechargeable products sold under the VARTA name. After earlier divestment to Rayovac and later Energizer ownership, VARTA reacquired the Europe, Middle East and Africa consumer battery business in a transaction completed in 2020.
Rechargeable consumer batteries
VARTA rechargeable batteries
Rechargeable batteries represent VARTA's portable energy-storage heritage and include rechargeable formats for household electronics and other consumer applications. The category connects the brand's historical accumulator business with its later lithium-ion and consumer-energy offerings.
Button cells
VARTA button cells
Button cells formed a distinct part of VARTA's battery portfolio and were excluded from the 2002 sale of the consumer battery activities to Rayovac. The button-cell business was later associated with Montana Tech Components.
Energy-storage systems
VARTA home energy storage
VARTA's home-energy-storage activities focused on storing electricity for residential use. These activities were among the businesses acquired by Montana Tech Components during the restructuring of the historical VARTA operations.
Electric-vehicle lithium-ion cells
V4Drive Battery
V4Drive Battery is the VARTA business unit associated with large-format lithium-ion cells for electric vehicles. Porsche received regulatory approval for majority ownership and sole control of this unit in 2024, making it a distinct strategic vehicle within the VARTA restructuring.
Brand decisions
2024
Restructure under Germany's StaRUG frameworkStrategyBackground
VARTA faced production disruption, heavy debt and deteriorating financial conditions.
Action taken
The company pursued a restructuring plan involving the cancellation of existing shares, lender concessions and new investment by Porsche and Michael Tojner.
Aftermath
Existing shareholders lost their equity, while Porsche and Tojner became the new owners under the approved restructuring arrangement.
2022
Abandon planned EV battery facilityStrategyBackground
VARTA faced cost pressure while developing its electric-vehicle battery strategy.
Action taken
The company abandoned the planned electric-vehicle lithium-ion battery production project.
Aftermath
The decision was followed by further cost-cutting measures and job reductions.
2020
Pursue domestic electric-vehicle battery productionStrategyBackground
Germany and Baden-Württemberg supported the development of local lithium-ion battery manufacturing under the European IPCEI program.
Action taken
VARTA planned a production facility for electric-vehicle batteries.
Aftermath
The project was abandoned in 2022 as VARTA reduced costs.
Public support announced for the project. €300 million (2020)
2019
Reacquire the EMEA consumer battery businessM&ABackground
VARTA sought to rebuild its consumer battery presence after the business had passed through Rayovac and Energizer ownership.
Action taken
VARTA agreed to acquire the Europe, Middle East and Africa consumer battery business, including manufacturing and distribution facilities in Germany, from Energizer.
Aftermath
The transaction completed in January 2020 and restored a major consumer battery operation to VARTA.
2017
Return to public marketsOtherBackground
After years of divestments and ownership changes, VARTA sought access to public equity markets.
Action taken
The company floated shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange's Prime Standard segment.
Aftermath
VARTA operated as a publicly traded company until the later restructuring that eliminated existing shareholder equity.
2002
Sell consumer battery activities to RayovacM&ABackground
VARTA was restructuring its portfolio and separating operating businesses.
Action taken
The consumer battery activities, excluding button cells, were sold to Rayovac.
Aftermath
VARTA's consumer battery business moved outside the company and later changed hands again before being reacquired in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
1977
Separate non-battery businesses from VARTAStrategyBackground
Herbert Quandt reorganized the company's diversified activities.
Action taken
Battery and plastics operations remained in VARTA, while pharmaceutical, specialty-chemical and electrical activities were transferred or spun off.
Aftermath
The reorganization created separate corporate vehicles and narrowed VARTA's central identity around battery-related activities.
Recent events
Varta cut its revenue outlook[2]
Reported:
Varta lowered its full-year revenue outlook to EUR 900 million from EUR 940 million previously. Its full-year EBITDA margin outlook remained unchanged at 30%.
Sources2 sources
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