Hyundai and LG Considering Car Battery Production in Indonesia

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – South Korea’s Hyundai in Indonesia is expanding beyond car manufacturing as it is in talks with LG Chem Ltd to invest in car battery production in the Southeast Asian country.

The joint venture would see two of South Korea’s business giants produce car batteries for electric cars in Indonesia, according to sources at Reuters.

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The production capacity of the proposed car battery manufacturing is yet to be revealed.

With a growing number of consumers seeking eco-friendly alternatives to their lifestyle, new opportunities have arisen for the global automotive industry.

There is also an expanding list of countries providing generous subsidies for companies that can achieve reduced carbon emissions.

LG Chem has a longstanding history in electric car battery production. Its clients include General Motors, Geely Automobile, Tesla, Hyundai, and a slew of other car producers.

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Head of LG Group Koo Kwang-mo confirmed that a meeting took place with the Executive Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor, Euisun Chung.

Both parties discussed a potential partnership in EV battery production including battery technology for the future.

However, both Hyundai and LG executives did not yet reach a decision in their potential business plans.

“Hyundai Motor Group has collaborated with LG Chem in various projects. At this moment, there has yet to be any concrete discussions regarding a joint venture for car battery production in Indonesia,” said a Hyundai representative to Reuters.

Should the joint venture between the two South Korean giants take place, it will be the first attempt for Hyundai in car battery production.

Plans to start car battery production in Indonesia is quite strategic considering Hyundai started construction of a factory in the archipelagic nation.

This is Hyundai’s effort to challenge Toyota’s dominating presence in Indonesia.

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Indonesia’s Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita first raised the topic of LG’s investment plans for car battery production in Indonesia back in 2019.

The minister even participated in a study about electric motors.

“South Korean company LG Chemical has expressed its desire to build an integrated factory for car battery production in Indonesia. The factory would produce battery cells, module batteries as well as provide facilities for recycling batteries,” said Agus on November 21. 

(Writer: Stanly Ravel | Editor: Azwar Ferdian) 

Source: https://otomotif.kompas.com/read/2020/06/23/151627915/hyundai-dan-lg-mau-bikin-pabrik-baterai-di-indonesia