정의선•구광모, 전기차 배터리 협력 강화 논의...자동차 수출 감소세 속 타개책 모색하나
It's for Electric Vehicle partnership.
A first-ever one-on-one between Hyundai Motor Group's heir apparent and the head of LG Group as they toured LG Chem's EV battery plant today.
The two conglomerates are looking to step up efforts to develop a game changer in future EV batteries.
Yoon Jung-min tells us more.
Hyundai Motor Group's heir Chung Eui-sun met with LG Group Chairman Koo Gwang-mo on Monday to strengthen their alliance in producing electric vehicles.
The Hyundai executive vice chairman visited LG Chem's battery factory in Ochang, Chungcheongbuk-do Province.
There, the two businessmen discussed measures to bolster cooperation for electric vehicle production.
LG Chem is already a key partner of Hyundai Motor, as it will be supplying batteries for Hyundai's Electric-Global Modular Platform slated for 2022.
The partnership comes amid a decline in South Korea's auto exports due to the impact of COVID-19 on global trade.
From June 1st to June 20th, car exports plummeted over 36 percent compared to the year before.
"This comes amid changes in the auto industry, like a shift to electric cars, hydrogen cars or mobility services. Hyundai needs to closely work with LG Chem and others amid competition with global contenders like Tesla."
Hyundai is also working with other leading local battery producers.
Last month, Chung met with Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong,... while he was visiting Samsung SDI's battery production line in Cheonan.
Sources say the Hyundai heir is also going to meet SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won in the near future.
Currently, SK Innovation is one of the major battery producers for Kia Motors.
Hyundai and Kia Motors are among the global leaders in the electric vehicle market, selling more than 24-thousand electric cars in the first quarter of this year.
Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.
