Samsung SDI is planning to construct a new battery manufacturing plant in Göd, Hungary reports The Elec. According to the publication, Samsung will produce batteries mainly for BMW’s electric cars at the new battery manufacturing plant. Reportedly, these batteries will be made according to the specifications provided by the German car manufacturer.
The new factory will be called Plant 3, and it will be constructed near Samsung’s existing battery manufacturing units—Plant 1 and Plant 2—in the region. The existing factories were converted from CRT and PDP manufacturing facilities to battery manufacturing plants in 2016. According to The Elec, Samsung has already completed the purchase of the land for the factory, and it will invest KRW 1 trillion (around $807 million) into it. The upcoming facility is said to produce 12 million cells per month across 15 to 20 production lines.
Samsung SDI partnered with BMW in 2009 to supply the German car manufacturer with lithium-ion batteries for the company's i-series electric cars. Recently, the Executive Chairman of Samsung Electronics, Lee Jae-Yong, met with the CEO of BMW, Oliver Zipse, to discuss the partnership between the two companies. It looks like the decision by Samsung SDI to construct a new battery manufacturing plant for BMW in Hungary is a direct result of that meeting.
Samsung is expected to produce a new prismatic battery at the upcoming factory. Compared to Samsung SDI’s 5th generation Zen battery, the new prismatic battery will be shorter and wider. This will help BMW lower the center of gravity in its electric cars. A lower center of gravity enhances the stability of a vehicle, and thus, improves its handling characteristics. The report also suggests that this battery will use new types of materials.
Samsung SDI has recently been making rapid progress in batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). Last year, the company showcased the latest battery technologies for commercial vehicles at the IAA Transportation exhibition, which also included the company’s roadmap for solid-state batteries. Since the EVs are on the rise, Samsung SDI has been selling more and more EV batteries recently. As a result, Samsung SDI posted record-high profits in Q3 2022.
