Seoul—In a significant move towards transparency, seven automobile brands in South Korea have disclosed the battery information for their electric vehicle (EV) models sold in the country. This development comes amid escalating demands for greater clarity on EV battery origins following a severe fire incident involving an electric car earlier this month.
According to Yonhap News Agency, as of Tuesday, three South Korean companies—Hyundai Motor Co., Kia Corp, and KG Mobility Corp.—along with four international brands, have shared battery details for 40 different EV models available in the market. Notably, 14 of these models are equipped with batteries manufactured in China, representing 35% of the total. This disclosure follows Hyundai Motor's update over the weekend on its website, detailing the battery manufacturers for 13 of its EV models. Similarly, Kia and KG Mobility have provided information about the batteries used in their electric vehicles. Among foreign manufacturers, BMW Korea was the first to voluntarily share such data, with other companies like Mercedes-Benz Korea and Volvo also following suit.