Chinese battery maker Gotion High-Tech is pursuing a supply agreement with South Korea’s SK IE Technology (SKIET) for battery separators for its upcoming production facilities in North America and Europe, the companies announced.
The two firms have signed a letter of intent, paving the way for a formal supply contract under which SKIET would provide separators for Gotion’s plants in Slovakia and Illinois, U.S. Gotion is developing a 20 GWh battery production facility in Slovakia in partnership with InoBat, backed by a €1.23 billion investment.
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While Gotion is not among the world’s largest battery producers, it ranks eighth globally with a 3.2% market share, according to SNE Research. The company is expanding internationally and will collaborate with SKIET, a subsidiary of SK Innovation, to secure separator supplies.
SKIET stated it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Gotion at the Intersolar North America Conference in San Diego in late February. The company has already verified the suitability of its separators for Gotion’s EV and energy storage production. “This partnership with Gotion represents a significant step forward as we look to create synergies in the global EV and ESS market,” said SKIET CEO Lee Sang-min.
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Earlier in February, SKIET announced a long-term contract worth approximately 290 billion won ($216 million) with an undisclosed global battery manufacturer for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery separators.