Groundbreaking ceremony in Korea for lithium‐ion cell production SB LiMotive plans start of production for 2011 ###backToList###
By breaking ground for a manufacturing site in Ulsan, Korea, the Samsung SDI and Bosch joint venture SB LiMotive is gearing up for series production of lithium‐ion battery cells. On September 10, 2009, the foundation stone was laid for the first of three construction phases. On a total ground area of some 28,000 square meters, lithium‐ion battery cells for hybrid vehicles are to be manufactured there from 2011 and for electric vehicles from 2012. Plans call for the creation of 1,000 jobs for the production of lithium‐ion battery cells in the next years.
In the presence of the Korean Prime Minister, Han Seung‐soo, the Minister of Knowledge Economy, Lee Yoon‐Ho, and various other national and regional dignitaries, Wolf‐Henning Scheider, president of the Bosch Gasoline Systems division, Soon Taek Kim, CEO of Samsung SDI and Krister Mellvé, president of the Korean regional subsidiary of Bosch broke ground together with Young Woo Park, president of SB LiMotive, and Dr. Joachim Fetzer, executive vice president of SB LiMotive. “Today, we are taking a big step forward to achieve our objective of series production of lithium‐ion cells by 2011,” says Soon Taek Kim. Wolf‐Henning Scheider is sure that the city of Ulsan fulfills all requirements for being an ideal foreign investment region: “It is a promising opportunity for us to set up the first mass production of our joint venture here.”
Samsung SDI and Bosch set up the SB LiMotive Co. Ltd joint venture in 2008 to develop the lithium‐ion battery for hybrid and electric vehicles for series production, and then to manufacture the battery. By 2013, the joint venture partners intend to have invested some 500 million dollars in their company. Apart from Ulsan, the company has locations in Giheung (Korea), Stuttgart (Germany), Orion and Springboro (USA). SB LiMotive currently employs some 500 associates. Company headquarters and administration are located in Giheung. Some of the company’s battery development operations, as well as development and production planning for lithium‐ion cells are also located there.
In Korea, SB LiMotive already has a pilot production line for cells up and running. Development of battery packs and systems is located in its German subsidiary company in Stuttgart. The company is building up a team for worldwide sales, marketing, and management of key accounts. For the future production of battery packs, SB LiMotive is planning regional solutions.
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Contact person for press inquiries:
Robert Bosch GmbH
Ulf‐Malte Wünsch
Phone: +49 (0)711 811‐7204
Email: ulf‐malte.wuensch@de.bosch.com
About SB LiMotive Co. Ltd
Kyuwon Jung
Phone: +82 (0)31 210‐8064
Email: kyuwon.jung@sblimotive.com
