Northvolt, the Swedish maker of battery cells for electric vehicles, said on Thursday it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S., dealing a blow to Europe's hopes that its most developed battery player would reduce Western car makers' reliance on Chinese rivals.

This move is part of a strategic effort to restructure debt, scale operations and secure a sustainable foundation for continued operations.

Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt has filed for bankruptcy, dashing Europeans' hopes for local battery production and recycling

Northvolt's financial collapse deals a blow to Europe's plan to set up its own battery industry to power electric cars, stirring a debate about whether it needs to do more to attract investment as startups struggle to catch up with Chinese rivals.

Northvolt's financial collapse deals a blow to Europe's plan to set up its own battery industry to power electric cars, stirring a debate about whether it needs to do more to attract investment as startups struggle to catch up with Chinese rivals.

Sweden’s ambitions of having a strong electric vehicle (EV) battery industry are overshadowed by the financial collapse of battery maker Northvolt. Last month, Northvolt summarily rejected the headhunter’s scheme and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States,