Hyundai Motor and Kia have joined forces with South Korea’s leading battery companies to advance electric vehicle technology and strengthen the country’s global competitiveness, officials said Friday.
The alliance brings together Hyundai and Kia with three major battery manufacturers—LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and SK On—for the first time, signaling a coordinated effort to counter growing Chinese dominance in the EV sector.
The partnership will focus on safety technology, digital battery management, design and manufacturing quality, and firefighting solutions.
The collaboration follows a joint initiative by Hyundai and Kia launched last September to develop lower-cost lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, intended to compete with Chinese battery makers such as BYD.
The companies said the new alliance will allow each partner to leverage specialized technologies to accelerate innovation and maintain South Korea’s leadership in EV batteries.
The agreement was signed at Hyundai Motor’s Namyang R&D Center, with government and corporate representatives in attendance. Hyundai and Kia indicated that the initiative is expected to enhance national competitiveness by advancing safer and more efficient battery technologies for electric vehicles.
