SEOUL — In a significant shift prompted by rising safety concerns, South Korean car manufacturers are set to disclose detailed battery brand information for their electric vehicles (EVs). This move comes after a Mercedes-Benz EV caught fire on August 1, leading to significant damage in a parking garage in Incheon, sparking public demand for greater transparency regarding the components of EVs.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Hyundai Motor Co. has taken the lead by listing the battery manufacturers for 13 of its EV models on its website. The disclosures reveal that most of Hyundai's EVs use batteries from South Korea's LG Energy Solution Ltd. or SK On Co., except for the Kona Electric, which uses batteries from China's CATL. Hyundai stated that it has always disclosed battery suppliers during new model launches and responded to customer inquiries on this matter consistently. Following Hyundai's lead, Kia Corp. also updated its website with similar information for its EVs, including models like the EV3, EV6, and EV9, primarily using LG and SK On batteries, with the exception of the Ray EV and some Niro EV models, which are equipped with CATL batteries.
The trend of transparency is catching on with other companies as well. KG Mobility Corp. and various import car companies are considering similar disclosures. Notably, BMW Korea has become the first imported car brand in South Korea to publicly share the battery manufacturers for its models, stating that its iX1 and iX3 SUVs are equipped with CATL batteries, while the iX xDrive50 and iX M60 SUVs, along with the i4, i5, and i7 series sedans, feature batteries from South Korea's Samsung SDI Co.
This industry-wide shift towards transparency will be a key topic at an upcoming EV safety inspection meeting hosted by the transport ministry. While the initiative has been well-received domestically, some import car companies face challenges in matching the pace of disclosure set by local manufacturers, citing the need for coordination with their global headquarters. An insider noted the traditional secrecy around parts suppliers at the headquarters level but acknowledged the growing local concerns over EV fires, highlighting ongoing efforts to address these issues within South Korea.