South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution (LGES) and Turkish energy company GO Enerji have agreed to jointly establish a battery pack production facility in Ankara, strengthening LGES’s manufacturing presence in the region as it navigates intensifying global competition and expanding overseas contracts.
The factory is scheduled to begin operations as early as the second quarter of 2026 with an initial annual production capacity of 2.5 gigawatt-hours (GWh), which is expected to rise to 7.5 GWh within two years. The site will assemble battery packs for use in electric vehicles and stationary energy storage systems. About 100 jobs will be created in the initial phase, with total employment projected to reach around 900 as capacity expands.
See also: LG Energy Solution Launches B.once Battery Diagnostic Tool for Used EV Market
Initial investment in the assembly plant will total 45 million euros, while long-term investments are expected to exceed 1 billion euros. “The factory will operate under the ‘Made in Türkiye’ label, serving both domestic demand and LG Energy Solution’s global customers,” said Gökhan Yıldız, chairman of GO Enerji, adding that exports are planned to Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He said the project is intended to reduce Turkey’s reliance on imported battery technologies and position the country as an international hub for energy systems production.
The Ankara investment comes as LG Energy Solution adjusts to shifts in the global EV battery market. Total global EV battery installations reached 933.5 GWh in the January–October period, up 35.2% from a year earlier, according to SNE Research. China’s CATL led the market with 355.2 GWh and a 38.1% share, while BYD ranked second with 157.9 GWh. LG Energy Solution placed third, installing 86.5 GWh, giving it a 9.3% global share, down from 11.1% a year earlier.
See also: LG Energy Solution Advances Dry Electrode Battery Technology to Boost Efficiency and Cut Costs
Financially, LGES has recently pointed to improving momentum. In October, the company said its third-quarter operating profit was likely up 34% year-on-year, driven by a surge in U.S. electric vehicle sales ahead of the expiry of federal purchase incentives at the end of September. Earlier in July, LGES also announced a $4.3 billion contract to supply lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries globally over a three-year period starting in August 2027, although the company did not disclose the customer or the end-use of the batteries.
Beyond manufacturing, LG Energy Solution and GO Enerji also plan to establish a research and development centre in Turkey to support local innovation, talent development and advanced battery technologies. Yıldız said the R&D platform could eventually pave the way for battery cell production in the country.
See also: Mercedes-Benz Secures 107 GWh Battery Supply Deal With LG Energy Solution
The agreement marks LG Energy Solution’s return to Turkey after it cancelled a planned battery cell joint venture with Ford Otosan in early 2023 due to concerns over the pace of electromobility adoption at the time. Since then, Turkey has expanded its EV manufacturing ecosystem, producing vehicles such as the Ford e-Transit, Ford e-Transit Custom, the electric Volkswagen T7, and domestic brand Togg, with BYD and Hyundai also planning local EV production.
Founded in 2003, GO Enerji is best known for large-scale solar photovoltaic projects and is now aiming to expand into stationary battery storage through its partnership with LG Energy Solution.
