Stellantis, Samsung SDI to build $2.5 billion Indiana JV battery plant
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Stellantis NV and Samsung SDI said on Tuesday they will invest more than $2.5 billion to build a new joint venture battery plant in Kokomo, Indiana as the Chrysler-parent ramps up electric vehicle production plans.
Targeted to start in 2025, the plant aims to have an initial annual production capacity of 23 gigawatt hours (GWh), with an aim to increase to 33 GWh in the next few years.
The joint venture will create 1,400 new jobs and the investment could gradually increase to up to $3.1 billion.
Stellantis is boosting production of plug-in hybrids but has lagged some competitors in launching battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the United States.
Stellantis North America Chief Operating Officer Mark Stewart on Tuesday acknowledged the automaker was behind “when it comes to bringing the BEVs to this marketplace, but not much.” Last year, Stellantis said it planned to pump $35 billion into electric vehicle production and software globally through 2025.
Stellantis has had strong sales of plug-in hybrid vehicles and is launching its Jeep Grand Cherokee plug-in hybrid this month.
The companies they were forming a joint venture for lithium ion battery production in North America.
Samsung SDI CEO Yoonho Choi said the company has “secured a solid foothold in a rapidly growing North American EV market through the joint venture with Stellantis.”
Samsung SDI will be using its technology PRiMX to produce battery cells and modules for North America.
In October, Stellantis said it would invest $229 million in its three Kokomo plants to produce electrified, eight-speed transmissions.
In March, Stellantis and LG Energy Solution said they would invest $4.1 billion for a joint venture battery plant in Canada with an annual production capacity in excess of 45 gigawatt hours.
United Auto Workers Vice President Cindy Estrada said the union looks “forward to negotiating an agreement with Stellantis that brings this new plant under our master agreement with traditional wages and benefits.”
President Joe Biden at a visit to Samsung in South Korea on Friday urged the companies to “enter into partnerships” with “American union members” and said JVs “that manufacture electric vehicle batteries would be made stronger by collective bargaining relationships with America unions.”
(Reporting by David Shepardson. Editing by Jane Merriman)
FILE PHOTO: A view shows the logo of Stellantis at the entrance of the company’s factory in Hordain, France, July 7, 2021. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol