BMW is planning to increase its purchases of SDI battery cells for the electric i3 city car and the plug-in hybrid i8 sports car as well as for “additional hybrid models” in the coming years, the Munich-based carmaker said today in a statement. BMW assembles the cells into batteries at a facility in Dingolfing, Germany.
“The battery is a key component in every electric vehicle — since it basically determines the range and performance capabilities of the car,” Klaus Draeger, BMW’s purchasing chief, said in the statement. “In Samsung SDI, we have chosen a supplier that offers us the best-available technology with future-oriented Korean battery expertise.”
The deal paves the way for BMW to secure supply of batteries — the most expensive part of an electric vehicle — as it rolls out the i8 and i3 to counter inroads by Tesla Motor Inc. into the luxury-car segment. For Samsung SDI, which supplies batteries to Apple Inc., the order builds on the company’s plans to expand its automotive business months after agreeing to acquire Cheil Industries Inc. for 3.5 trillion won ($3.4 bn) to add its chemicals and materials expertise.
Samsung SDI, a unit of South Korea’s Samsung Group, rose 0.6 pc to close at 173,000 won, the highest since December. The shares have gained 6.8 pc this year, while the benchmark Kospi index is little changed. BMW slipped 0.6 pc to 92.25 euros at 11:27 am in Frankfurt trading.
telegraph.co.uk
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