Author: Min-jae Kim

South Korea’s LG Energy Solution said on Friday it has agreed to terminate a 3.9 trillion won ($2.7 billion) battery supply contract with Germany’s Freudenberg Battery Power Systems, citing the partner’s decision to abandon its battery business. In a regulatory filing, LG Energy Solution said the cancellation was made by mutual agreement after Freudenberg revised its business strategy. The move comes just a week after the battery maker disclosed the loss of another major contract, this time with U.S. automaker Ford Motor, involving an electric vehicle battery supply deal valued at around 9.6 trillion won. Ford last week announced it…

Kia has appointed Soohang Chang as President and Chief Executive of Kia Europe, effective Jan. 1, 2026, as the automaker sharpens its focus on electrification across the region. Chang, currently head of Kia’s Middle East and Africa operations, will succeed Marc Hedrich, who will remain with the company and move into the role of President of Kia France, Kia said. Hedrich previously held the French leadership post from 2021 to 2023 and has been credited with strengthening the brand’s position in the market. See also: Kia Europe Tests Cell-Level Battery Passport Ahead of 2027 EU Mandate Kia said Chang brings…

Hyundai Motor Group has announced a broad round of senior management appointments, naming Manfred Harrer as President and Head of its Research and Development Division, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The group said the personnel changes are intended to accelerate its transformation into a software-driven mobility company. In his new role, Harrer will be responsible for strengthening the group’s Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) capabilities through closer integration across software and related development areas, while leading next-generation vehicle and platform programmes. See also: Hyundai Self-Driving Chief Chang-Hyeong Song Steps Down Amid Strategic Shift Debate Harrer joined Hyundai Motor Group in 2024 and currently…

Samsung SDI announced Wednesday it has finalized a contract valued at over 2 trillion won ($1.36 billion) to supply lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for energy-storage systems (ESS) to an undisclosed major U.S. energy company. The deal, which calls for deliveries over approximately three years beginning in 2027, signifies a strategic shift for the Korean battery maker, whose primary focus has historically been on nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) cells. See also: Samsung SDI, BMW, and Solid Power Partner on Solid-State Battery Validation Project The contract is notable as the first time Samsung SDI has publicly announced an LFP-based ESS supply agreement. It…