SK Innovation To Supply EV Battery Cells To Mercedes-Benz
After ending their deal with Tesla Motors last year for the supply of components and batteries for the Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive, Mercedes-Benz seems to have found a new supplier in South Korea’s SK Innovation.
According to a Reuters report, SK Innovation, South Korea’s largest refiner and EV (electric vehicle) battery cell manufacturer announced it has secured orders to supply battery cells for Mercedes-Benz’s upcoming electric vehicles which will debut in 2017.
“Battery cells to be supplied by SK Innovation will be formed into battery packs and equipped in future Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles,” according to a SK Innovation statement. “With our battery cells, the German premium carmaker plans to expand its clean-energy EV lineup in full scale. The latest deal shows that we possess globally competitive technologies and manufacturing capabilities for EV batteries.”
The company competes with the likes of LG Chem and Samsung SDI to supply lithium-ion battery cells to car manufacturers and lists South Korea’s Kia and China’s BAIC as its clients. The value of the Mercedes-Benz deal has not been revealed but Korea Times had reported that SK Innovation had doubled its production capacity since middle of last year.
