LG Energy Solution is reportedly preparing a new cylindrical battery cell format for Mercedes-Benz’s next-generation electric vehicles, with deliveries expected to begin in 2028.
According to South Korean technology publication The Elec, LG Energy Solution plans to supply Mercedes-Benz with 46100 cylindrical cells measuring 46 millimeters in diameter and 100 millimeters in height. The format would expand the company’s existing portfolio of 46-series battery cells.
The report, citing industry sources, says LG Energy Solution is expected to begin establishing production capacity for the new cells next year. A first production line is reportedly planned at the company’s Wrocław facility in Poland, with Mercedes-Benz identified as the customer.
LGES Reportedly Prepares 46100 Production
LG Energy Solution is also said to be preparing a facility for the 46100 format at its Ochang site in South Korea. The facility would reportedly be used to adapt the new cell technology to the specifications required for the planned mass-production line in Poland.
The company is additionally considering investment in module assembly, according to The Elec. Under the reported plans, cells produced for Mercedes-Benz would be assembled into battery modules before being supplied to the automaker.
Neither LG Energy Solution nor Mercedes-Benz has officially confirmed the reported production plans.
The 46100 would add another size to LG Energy Solution’s growing range of 46-series cylindrical cells. The category includes the 4680 format, which measures 46 mm in diameter and 80 mm in height, as well as less widely used formats such as the 4695 and 46120.
LG Energy Solution Expands 46-Series Portfolio
LG Energy Solution has been developing multiple cylindrical cell formats as automakers increasingly evaluate larger-format cells for electric vehicles.
The company began producing 4695 cells at its Ochang plant toward the end of last year. Earlier reports also indicated that production of various 46-series cells, ranging from 4680 to 46120, was planned for LG Energy Solution’s battery facility in Arizona by the end of this year.
The reported 46100 format would sit between the 4695 and 46120 in terms of cell height. Its development highlights the flexibility of the 46-series platform, allowing battery suppliers to tailor cylindrical cell dimensions to individual vehicle and battery-pack requirements.
Mercedes-Benz Expands Battery Supplier Network
The reported agreement would further strengthen an existing relationship between LG Energy Solution and Mercedes-Benz. The two companies have signed four long-term battery supply agreements since October 2024.
However, LG Energy Solution is not Mercedes-Benz’s exclusive battery supplier. In April, Mercedes-Benz signed its first long-term electric vehicle battery supply agreement with Samsung SDI, adding another South Korean battery manufacturer to its supply network.
Mercedes-Benz also works with CATL for battery supplies. The automaker has previously sourced cells from SK On and Farasis, giving it a diversified battery supplier base as it expands its next generation of electric vehicles.
If the reported LG Energy Solution plans proceed, production of the new 46100 cells in Poland would give Mercedes-Benz access to another customized cylindrical cell format while expanding LGES’s manufacturing footprint for 46-series batteries.
