Samsung SDI marks 55 years, as CEO vows to tackle EV woes
Samsung SDI CEO Choi Joo-sun attended a celebratory event earlier in the morning, marking his first time participating since he took office last year.
The event was also attended by key executives and recipients of the SDI Award for outstanding achievements, along with awardees who have been recognized for their extended tenure.
In his commemorative speech, Choi said, 'We can show our true skills during dark times.' Speaking with confidence, he expressed, 'If we believe in our potential and join forces, we can soon make a significant leap forward.'
Addressing the turbulent business environment and candidly sharing the weight of leadership in difficult times, he added, 'Many nights, I struggle to sleep. The realities we face at times send chills down my spine.'
However, Choi encouraged the attendees by highlighting the importance of developing differentiated technology, rebuilding manufacturing competitiveness, normalizing battery electrodes, assembly and pack technologies and ensuring the success of the new electronic materials business.
'We can and we will succeed,' said Choi, pledging to 'lead the way and make every effort to create the promising future you envision. I will take responsibility.'
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Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Korea Herald
[Exclusive] Samsung SDI revamps sales under CEO amid push for global orders
Move consolidates customer order management, strengthens push for package deals with global automakers Samsung SDI has recently merged its sales teams into a single unit directly overseen by CEO Choi Joo-sun, in an apparent bid to ramp up battery orders across applications ranging from electric vehicles to energy storage systems. According to industry sources on Sunday, the battery maker affiliated with Samsung Electronics restructured its strategy marketing office earlier this month as part of a broader organizational reshuffle. Previously, the company's sales teams operated under separate battery and materials business divisions. Now, they have been consolidated into a unified strategy marketing office that reports directly to the CEO. 'The elevated status demonstrates the company's strong commitment to driving sales and securing overseas orders,' said an industry source familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity. Another source confirmed the change, saying, 'This is a strategic move to consolidate all customer order management functions into a single organization.' Until 2021, Samsung SDI operated the strategy marketing office as an independent division, before splitting it into three business units: one for small batteries, such as cylindrical and pouch lithium-ion cells used in electronic devices and two-wheelers; another for medium- and large-sized prismatic and cylindrical batteries for EVs and ESS; and a third for electronic materials. Even within each unit, marketing activities were reportedly managed separately by application and form factor. 'This shift allows for more streamlined and efficient supply agreements, such as 'package deals' with global OEMs like General Motors and Tesla, which have been seeking multiple battery form factors and applications,' the source added. The restructuring also signals that Samsung SDI is adopting a more aggressive approach to securing corporate orders compared to rivals LG Energy Solution and SK On, which continue to operate separate sales teams under each business division. Samsung SDI's renewed push comes after two consecutive quarterly operating losses, largely due to weak demand for EV batteries from OEMs and reduced profitability in the US ESS market, partly tied to tariffs on automobiles and related components. During its second-quarter earnings call, the company vowed to step up efforts to win global battery orders. 'We have secured orders for cylindrical batteries measuring 46 millimeters in diameter for premium EVs from a leading European global OEM, and we are currently negotiating supply contracts for commercial EVs with a North American startup,' said Kim Jong-sung, executive vice president of Samsung SDI's business management office. He added that the company is also in talks with another major European automaker regarding entry-level EV lithium iron phosphate prismatic batteries, as well as nickel, cobalt and aluminum prismatic cells for commercial vehicles. According to Kim Soo-hwan, head of the mid-to-large battery division, Samsung SDI has so far pursued a premium EV battery strategy but now intends to target the entry-level market as well, reflecting rapid growth in the budget EV segment. In the ESS sector, Samsung SDI plans to convert part of its first joint venture battery cell plant with Stellantis from EV to ESS production. With mass production scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of this year, Kim emphasized that the company has already secured orders for the line through next year.
Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Korea Herald
Korean battery-makers operate at half capacity amid mounting Chinese competition
Korea's top three battery-makers -- LG Energy Solution, SK On and Samsung SDI -- operated at around 50 percent capacity in the first half of 2025, amid aggressive expansion by Chinese competitors in global electric vehicle markets. According to LG Energy Solution's half-year report released Thursday, the company maintained an average utilization rate of 51.3 percent, producing roughly 10 trillion won ($7.2 billion) worth of products across its global facilities. The figure has steadily declined from year-round rates of 69.3 percent in 2023 and 57.8 percent in 2024. SK On, by contrast, posted an operational rate of 52.2 percent in the same period, up from 43.6 percent in 2024, but still below 87.7 percent reached in 2023. Its US facilities, which supply batteries for Hyundai Motor Co.'s local production, operated at near full capacity as Hyundai ramped up manufacturing in the country during the first half. Samsung SDI did not disclose the utilization rate for its main EV battery segment, though it reported a 44 percent rate for its small-battery division. Industry estimates, however, place the company's overall operational rate at around 50 percent. Its European plants were believed to have operated at 30 to 40 percent capacity in the first quarter, before gradually recovering in the second. Meanwhile, its US facility under a 50:50 joint venture with automotive conglomerate Stellantis was also estimated to have run at below 60 percent in the first half. Behind the sluggish operation rates of Korean battery companies was the rapid growth of Chinese companies in the global EV sector. According to SNE Research, although global EV battery usage outside China rose 23.8 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2025, the combined market share of the three Korean companies fell 8.1 percentage points to 37.5 percent. LG Energy Solution and SK On posted growth of 2.2 percent and 10.6 percent, producing 43 gigawatt-hours and 19.6 GWh, respectively. They ranked second and third in the market. Samsung SDI, however, recorded a 7.8 percent decline, placing fifth. In contrast, Chinese battery-makers grew far faster than their Korean rivals. CATL and BYD, ranked first and sixth globally, recorded battery usage increases of 33.2 percent and 153 percent, respectively. Three other Chinese companies in the global top 10 also posted annual growth of over 30 percent. To address these challenges, Korean companies have been ramping up research and development efforts. Samsung SDI led R&D spending in the first half, allocating 704 billion won, or 11.1 percent of total sales, up from 7.8 percent a year earlier. LG Energy Solution invested 620 billion won, accounting for 5.2 percent of sales, up from 4.2 percent in 2024. SK On spent about 148 billion won, representing 0.52 percent of sales in the same period.
Korea Herald
13-08-2025
- Korea Herald
Outgoing Indian envoy, Herald CEO discuss India-Korea ties
Outgoing Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar and Herald Media Group CEO Choi Jin-young underscored deepening India-Korea ties in a courtesy meeting on Wednesday. They discussed bilateral dimensions and mutual perceptions amid global economic uncertainties, with Kumar praising the Herald Media Group's commercial forums and events for connecting Korean and Indian businesses. 'I'll leave a note for my successor,' Kumar said, referring to Herald Media Group events and content such as the Hello India series, which helped bridge the information gap between Korea, India and the wider world. He cited HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering's memorandum of understanding with India's largest state-owned shipbuilder, Cochin Shipyard Limited, for long-term cooperation in the shipbuilding value chain. "In green hydrogen, we have known four companies, four Indian companies, which are accredited by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy," Kumar added. Choi urged deeper strategic cooperation and stronger economic diplomacy between India and Korea to ensure future economic security, while thanking Kumar for his efforts in boosting ties and hosting the India-Korea Business Partnership Forum in November 2024. 'India and Korea together can respond to global challenges more effectively,' said Choi, suggesting ways to 'strengthen networks' for strategic goals through stronger economic diplomacy. Kumar will return to the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi after completing his tenure in South Korea this month. sanjaykumar@
