As the world enters 2021 with a cautious optimism, its global markets are still feeling many of the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic that have yet to be eradicated. Many people have pivoted toward remote work. This has increased smartphone and laptop demand, leading to shortages of essential components like semiconductors. One industry that is beginning to experience the impact of these shortages is automakers. If semiconductor manufacturers can’t catch up, it could spell more delays for several major automotive companies.

expand full story

At the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA Cars 2017) this week, Samsung’s battery division, Samsung SDI, showcases a new “Multifunctional battery pack” solution to enable more range in electric vehicles as the Korean company tries to carve itself a bigger share of the growing automotive battery market. expand full story

Lucid Motors, formerly known as ‘Atieva’, is having an exciting couple of weeks. Last week, it announced a deal with the state of Arizona to build a $700 million electric vehicle factory, and next week it will unveil the first vehicle it plans to produce at that plant in 2018.

Additionally, yesterday the company announced a partnership with Samsung SDI to supply battery cells for its all-electric sedan. The companies worked together on a new cylindrical li-ion battery cell that they described as a “breakthrough.” expand full story

While Panasonic has been Tesla’s longtime partner for battery cell supply, the automaker confirmed last year that for the first time it approved a cell from another manufacturer, LG Chem, but only for a small contract for its Roadster 3.0 upgrade. Now we learn that Tesla started taking delivery of much larger quantities of battery cells from yet another supplier: Samsung SDI. expand full story

Tesla often said that the Model 3’s $35,000 price tag was dependent on the company achieving its battery cost reduction goals at the Gigafactory. Recently, Tesla officials said that the Gigafactory should no longer be seen as a constraint in the Model 3 supply chain and that the company is confident in its capacity to start producing battery cells.

The factory was first presented as having a full annual output capacity of 35 GWh of battery cells and 50 GWh of battery packs – with the difference in cells being imported from other manufacturers, like Tesla’s Gigafactory partner Panasonic, but also other possible cells suppliers.

Now it looks like Tesla is looking to South Korea to diversify its battery cell supply chain for the Model 3. expand full story

Amnesty International and Afrewatch published a new investigative report (embedded below) explaining in details the global supply chain of cobalt and the use of child labor to source the mineral in Congo.

The report highlights the failure of certain electronics and electric car companies to ensure that the cobalt used in their batteries is not sourced using child labor. It names several automakers like Mercedes, VW and BYD, as well as several battery manufacturers known to supply automakers, like LG Chem (GM and Nissan). The report also goes after electronic giants Apple, Samsung and others. expand full story

Samsung SDI unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show this week a new battery cell prototype, which the company claims has the “world’s top high energy density” and could allow electric vehicles to travel 373 miles (600 km) on a single charge. expand full story

expand full story

Yesterday we reported that Tesla is in the final stages of negotiations with LG Chem for a battery cell supply agreement. Today, we learn through the WSJ (paywall) that Tesla confirmed the agreement and that the company will start by using the battery cells for the battery upgrade of the Roadster 3.0.

Furthermore, The Korea Industry Post reports that another Korean electronics giant, Samsung, is reportedly about to sign an agreement to supply battery cells to Tesla. expand full story

Samsung has acquired the battery pack business of leading automotive parts supplier Magna International. The move, according to a statement from the companies, will “enhance Samsung SDI’s capabilities in batteries for electric vehicles.”

While Samsung producing batteries and energy storage solutions for vehicles isn’t exactly new—it already supplies batteries for Tesla and others—there is an Apple Car connection in its latest acquisition… expand full story