Samsung SDI to acquire Magna International’s automotive battery pack business
23 February 2015
Samsung SDI has agreed to acquire the battery pack business of Magna International, a leading global automotive supplier. Samsung SDI expects the acquisition to enhance its capabilities in batteries for electric vehicles by combining the company’s established position in battery cells and modules with Magna’s expertise in battery packs.
Samsung SDI also said that Magna’s technology and experience in providing global automakers with battery packs will help it secure customers in the fast-growing automotive battery markets in Europe, North America and China.
The acquisition is a key strategic step for Samsung SDI to strengthen the competitiveness of our automotive battery business. It will provide new momentum to expand our business and customer base.
—Namseong Cho, President and CEO of Samsung SDI
Under the agreement, Samsung SDI will acquire the entire battery pack business from Magna Steyr, an Austria-based operating unit of Magna International, including all 264 employees, production and development sites and existing contracts of the business.
Financial terms of the deal will not be disclosed. The transaction is expected to be completed during the first half of 2015, pending regulatory approvals.
The global market for electric vehicles, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, is forecast to reach 7.7 million vehicles by 2020, compared with 2.1 million in 2014, according to research firms B3 and IHS.
Samsung and LG will become world leaders for the mass production of higher performance EV batteries and FCs.
Acquisition such as this, is one of the quickest way to get there.
Posted by: HarveyD | 23 February 2015 at 02:43 PM
Agree; But, just can't wait for some game-changing chemistry to come blazing into the market that will give us 500 miles range and not weight tons and cost thousands. That's game over for the use of oil as car fuel.
Posted by: Lad | 23 February 2015 at 02:56 PM