[단독] Samsung SDI, large-scale expansion of battery factory in China

Samsung SDI, which occupies the No. 1 global market share in the battery field for small tools such as electric drills, plans to expand its Tianjin plant in China within this year. The Tianjin Plant is a major overseas base where Samsung SDI produces cylindrical batteries. In the industry, there is a prospect that it is a paving stone to target Tesla in the long term. Here, Samsung SDI is making an all-time largest investment of 88.3 billion won in battery research and development (R&D).

According to the industry on the 9th, it is known that Samsung SDI will start expanding its Tianjin plant in China within this year to increase the production of cylindrical batteries. The specific investment size is not known, but the industry estimates it at around 300 billion won. Samsung SDI is operating plants 1 and 2 in Tianjin, China, which produce cylindrical batteries and smartphone pouch-type batteries.

Cylindrical batteries are suffering from supply shortages around the world as the e-bike market, which is represented by e-mobility, including power tools, expands. In addition, it is noteworthy that most of the batteries installed in Tesla, the world’s number one electric vehicle company, are cylindrical. There are two types of cylindrical batteries produced by Samsung SDI, 18650 (diameter 18mm x height 65mm) and 21700 (diameter 21mm x height 70mm), which are the same size as the Tesla Model S, Model X, and Model 3, respectively. .

An official from Samsung SDI explained, “Currently, we are considering expanding the plant in response to the rapidly increasing global demand for cylindrical batteries such as power tools and electric bicycles. We have not discussed the supply of batteries for Tesla electric vehicles.

Samsung SDI is recently making aggressive R&D investments for the’battery super gap’. According to the Samsung SDI business report announced on the day, the R&D expenses executed by Samsung SDI last year reached a record high of 808.3 billion won.

[노현 기자 / 이윤재 기자]
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