GlobalData attended the 2025 InterBattery event in Seoul, Korea, from March 5-7, 2025. This year, 688 exhibitors participated, including Korean battery cell manufacturers, raw material providers, and manufacturing equipment suppliers. Concurrently, the Korean Battery Industry Association (KBIA) hosted The Battery Conference (TBA) at the same venue.
The event’s highlights featured major Korean battery manufacturers such as Samsung SDI, LG Energy Solution, and SK On. Notably, all of these companies debuted high-nickel 46xx-series cylindrical cells at the event. Korean battery manufacturers indicated that there would be visibility of demand for these 46xx-series cylindrical cells in the near future, particularly in automotive applications, due to their excellent thermal management systems and higher energy density compared to traditional pouch cells.
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In addition to nickel-based batteries, Korean manufacturers showcased their readiness to provide LFP batteries. LG Energy Solution and SK On have developed in-house LFP pouch cells, while Samsung SDI is experimenting with LFP prismatic cells. Korean battery manufacturers expect that LFP will attract entry-level Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) ranges in the coming years.
Solid-state and sodium-ion batteries are also on the agenda for Korean manufacturers. Samsung SDI is currently trialing sodium-ion battery production and plans to commence mass production around 2027. It also aims to begin pilot production of solid-state batteries this year and expects commercialization around 2029-30. In a similar timeframe, LG Energy Solution revealed its next-generation battery roadmap, with sodium-ion, semi-solid-state, and all-solid-state batteries expected to be introduced by 2027, 2028, and 2030, respectively.
Another hot topic during the event was the global battery situation affecting Korean manufacturers. Two main concerns are likely to impact them: 1) the slowdown of BEV production in Europe and the influx of Chinese-built BEVs, which may result in reduced Korean battery penetration; and 2) potential changes in the US automotive industry under the Trump 2.0 administration, which could lead to revisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Nevertheless, we foresee that BEV demand in Europe will continue to rise due to the strengthening of CO2 emission targets and an influx of more affordable cars. In recent news, the European Commission plans to extend the fleet CO2 calculation period from a one-year range in 2025 to three years spanning 2025-27, likely resulting in slower BEV growth in 2025 than would have been the case under the original scheme. In the US, many automakers are revising their electrification strategies, slowing BEV programs while adding more Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs). In the US, many automakers are revising their electrification strategies, slowing BEV programs while adding more hybrids as BEV demand grows slowly – but there are other headwinds. In order to qualify for federal purchase subsidies afforded under the IRA, OEMs offering Plug-in Electrified Vehicles (PEVs) are required to comply with battery raw material and component sourcing rules that get stricter year by year. Additionally, tensions and tariffs between the US and China are providing an opportunity for Korean battery manufacturers to establish a strong presence.
In our Hybrid and EV forecast released in Q4 2024, we foresee that BEVs in the European Light Vehicle (LV) market will continue to grow from 12% in 2024 to 53% in 2030 and will reach 83% in 2036. Meanwhile, a slowdown in BEV growth in the short term is being implemented in the forthcoming forecast release, given that the European Commission intends to expand the fleet CO2 calculation period to cover 2025-27.
In the US, we currently expect that BEVs will account for almost 30% of new vehicle sales in 2030. However, this will likely be reduced when there is more clarity regarding the Trump administration’s policy changes, particularly fuel efficiency and emissions laws and changes to the tax credit incentives.
Note: Latest month contains some estimates.
Kwan Wongwetsawat, Senior Analyst, Global Powertrain, GlobalData
This article was first published on GlobalData’s dedicated research platform, the Automotive Intelligence Center.
