The joint venture between Korea’s Samsung SDI and Germany’s Bosch plans to invest KRW500bn (US$407m) in an electric vehicle battery plant as part of its bid to gain 30% of the global market by 2015.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more


SB LiMotive has broken ground on its factory to produce lithium ion batteries used to power hybrid and pure electric vehicles in the southeastern city of Ulsan. The plant will start production in 2011.


The market for eco-friendly vehicles is expected to grow rapidly, boosting demand for batteries to power electric vehicles. Samsung SDI expects the lithium-ion battery market for electric cars to reach $20.4bn in 2020 from $180m in 2009.


Lithium ion batteries are currently mainly used in notebook computers, cell phones, MP3 music players and other portable devices but are increasingly being used to power electric or hybrid cars.


Samsung SDI is the world’s second largest maker of lithium ion batteries after Japan’s Sanyo, holding a 17% share at the end of 2008, according to Japanese market research firm IIT. Sanyo held 27% of the market.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The battery and display unit of Samsung Electronics, last year launched the joint venture with Bosch. The move came as Samsung SDI, a maker of both PDP screens and bulky cathode ray tubes for TVs, seeks to transform itself into an energy firm amid the sluggish sales of its conventional display business.


The company plans to turn its complex in Ulsan into a hub for its green energy business, planning to produce not only electric vehicle batteries, but small-size rechargeable batteries, fuel cells and other next-generation energy sources.


Large corporations in Korea are stepping up their car battery businesses, hoping to cash in on rising demand for eco-friendly cars.


LG Chem, the country’s top chemicals company, recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Hyundai Mobis, Korea’s biggest auto parts maker, to collaborate on a venture for car batteries.