Samsung SDI building China plant
Published: 18 Aug. 2014, 19:46
The company held a groundbreaking ceremony at Xi’an High-tech Industrial Development Zone in Shaanxi, China, yesterday, which was attended by about 300 officials including Park Sang-jin, CEO of Samsung SDI; Chang Won-kie, president of Samsung Group’s greater China region; and Lou Qinjian, provincial governor of Shaanxi.
The factory, which will start operating next year in October, will manufacture cells for electric vehicle batteries.
Samsung SDI will be the first battery company to carry out the entire production process for vehicle batteries in China. The plan, which will receive $600 million in investment from Samsung SDI, will make more than 40,000 electric vehicle batteries per year.
To target the Chinese market more effectively, the company signed a memorandum of understanding in January with China’s Anqing New Ring Group, the No. 1 car engine piston and cylinder maker in China, and the investment firm Xi’an Gaoke Group.
The two companies then established Samsung Huanxin Power Battery Company in June with an investment of $600 million by Samsung SDI. The Korean battery maker owns 50 percent of the battery company’s shares and the other half is held by Anqing Huanxin Group and Xi’an Gaoke Group.
Samsung Huanxin Power Battery Company will supply batteries to local and global car companies that are original equipment manufacturers.
It will also supply batteries to Samsung SDI’s energy storage system company, which will be established next year.
“If we combine the capacity and knowledge of Samsung SDI and Huanxin, the Xian plant will become the best car battery plant not only in China but in the world,” said Park Sang-jin, CEO of Samsung SDI, at the ceremonial groundbreaking. “We hope that Xian, which was the starting point of the Silk Road, will drive the future with technology for new energy.”
The Chinese government set a goal of supplying five million electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles by 2020 to resolve environmental issues raised by surging fuel consumption in the nation.
It is also encouraging its citizens to purchase electric cars through tax exemptions and subsidies.
BY KIM JUNG-YOON [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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