(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Han Ji-eun reports that despite the electric vehicle (EV) chasm—a temporary stagnation in demand—the global usage of EV batteries, excluding China, continued to grow. However, the market share of Korea’s top three battery manufacturers decreased by more than 5 percentage points.
According to energy market research firm SNE Research on the 9th, the total battery usage in pure electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), and hybrid vehicles (HEVs) registered worldwide, excluding the Chinese market, was approximately 132.6 GWh (gigawatt hours) from January to April this year. This represents a 26.8% growth compared to the same period last year.
During this period, the combined market share of Korean battery companies LG Energy Solution, SK On, and Samsung SDI fell by 5.1 percentage points year-on-year, landing at 39.0%.
LG Energy Solution maintained second place with a 15.6% growth year-on-year, achieving 28.9 GWh, but its market share dropped from 23.9% to 21.8%.
SK On achieved a 24.1% growth, recording 13.4 GWh and ranking third. Its market share slightly decreased from 10.3% to 10.1%.
Samsung SDI’s battery usage decreased by 11.2%, reaching 10.3 GWh, and its market share fell from 11.1% to 7.8%.
In contrast, Chinese battery companies were increasing their market share even outside China.
CATL recorded a 36.0% growth, reaching 39.3 GWh, and took the top position with a 29.6% market share.
BYD achieved a 127.5% growth with 9.1 GWh, ranking sixth. BYD is particularly strengthening its market entry in Korea and Europe.
Japanese company Panasonic, which primarily supplies batteries to Tesla, recorded 9.4 GWh in battery usage but experienced an 8.7% decrease, placing it at fifth in market share.
SNE Research pointed out, “The aggressive market entry and local production investment of Chinese battery companies in Europe are emerging as new challenges for Korean battery companies.”