LG Energy, Honda Motor to build $4.4 bn EV battery plant in US

Seoul, Aug 29 (IANS) LG Energy Solution said on Monday it is joining hands with Japan's Honda Motor to build an electric vehicle battery plant in the United States in the latest move to increase its production capacity amid growing demand for zero-emission vehicles.

The two companies signed the binding agreement for the 5.1 trillion-won ($4.4 billion) joint venture to build the production facility with an annual capacity of 40 gigawatt hours, LGES said in a release.

LGES will make an initial investment of $1.8 billion in the joint venture and more in the coming years through 2027, it said in a regulatory filing. LGES will hold a 51 percent stake in the joint venture company.

The signing event took place in Seoul earlier in the day, attended by LGES CEO Kwon Young-soo and Honda Motor CEO Toshihiro Mibe, reports Yonhap news agency.

The location of the plant has yet to be decided.

The plant will manufacture pouch battery cells and modules starting late 2025, and the output from the plant will be mainly supplied for Honda's premium Acura EV models, LGES said.

LGES, the world's second-largest battery maker, is pouring in more than 20 trillion won to boost its production capacity in North America. It has formed joint ventures with U.S. General Motors Co. and the Chrysler parent, Stellantis N.V., to produce and supply the EV batteries.

LGES is also pushing to expand its existing standalone factory in the U.S. state of Michigan and weighing the plan to build its second standalone cylindrical battery plant in Arizona, after it said it was reassessing the project amid rising costs.

Honda, the sixth-highest selling carmaker in North America, has unveiled a plan to invest 5 trillion yen ($40 billion) for electrification with an aim to sell over 2 million EVs by 2030.