Mercedes-Benz Group Chairman Ola Kallenius held high-profile enterprise conferences Thursday with high executives from Samsung and LG to strengthen their auto components partnership amid the shift to electrification.
He met with Samsung Electronics Government Chairman Lee Jae-yong and a gaggle of different CEO-level officers from the 2 Korean conglomerates. This marks the primary go to by the Mercedes-Benz chief to Korea since 2023.
The Mercedes-Benz chief was extensively anticipated to debate future ties with the carmaker’s main Korean shoppers in areas akin to batteries, in-vehicle shows and auto chips, as the luxurious automaker undergoes a serious shift to electrification.
The main target is on whether or not Samsung can deepen its battery partnership with Mercedes-Benz. In September, LG Power Answer secured a large-scale battery provide contract value 15 trillion received ($10.2 billion) from the German automaker.
Mercedes-Benz sells electrical autos (EVs) outfitted with batteries from Korean companies, akin to LG Power Answer and SK On, for the Korean market, however Samsung SDI has but to produce its EV batteries to the automaker.
Mercedes-Benz Group Chairman Ola Kallenius smiles as he receives questions from reporters forward of his assembly with high executives of LG Group on the Korean firm’s headquarters in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
Kallenius’ dinner assembly with Lee at Seungjiwon, Samsung Group’s VIP visitor home in Seoul, is fueling expectations that the German automaker could diversify its battery provide chain to incorporate Samsung.
Samsung SDI CEO Choi Joo-sun and Harman CEO Christian Sobottka accompanied Lee and Kellenius for the dinner assembly.
The high-profile occasion raises hopes for Samsung SDI to clinch potential battery offers from Mercedes-Benz, because the German luxurious carmaker is on monitor to construct a full-fledged EV lineup.
Samsung Electronics additionally hopes to broaden its partnership with Mercedes-Benz in semiconductors. Samsung provides auto chips to BMW and Audi, however doesn’t provide them to Mercedes-Benz.
LG Group is forging deeper ties with Mercedes-Benz than Samsung Group. Beginning with in-vehicle shows, LG has provided a number of auto components to the automaker since 2004.
The Mercedes-Benz chairman met with LG Electronics CEO Cho Joo-wan and LG Power Answer CEO Kim Dong-myung and LG Show CEO Jeong Cheol-dong in Seoul.
“At Mercedes-Benz, we firmly consider that strategic, collaborative partnerships are the driving power which shapes our net-generation autos,” Kallenius mentioned. “Along with LG, we share a imaginative and prescient constructed on innovation, high quality and sustainability. By combining our strengths, we’re creating autos that may set new international requirements.”
LG Electronics is quickly increasing its international profile in its automobile part enterprise. The agency’s automobile resolution unit reported a report working revenue of 149.6 billion received within the third quarter on rising demand for in-vehicle infotainment techniques from its worldwide shoppers.
“LG will additional solidify our strategic partnership with Mercedes-Benz by leveraging our core competencies within the automobile elements enterprise, together with our consumer experience-centric worth proposition, built-in software-defined automobile resolution portfolio and our globally confirmed expertise and reliability,” the pinnacle of LG Electronics mentioned.
Mercedes-Benz Group CEO Ola Kallenius, left, poses with HS Hyosung Vice Chairman Cho Hyun-sang, on the world’s first devoted showroom and repair heart completely for Maybach clients right here in Seoul. Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Korea
Kallenius additionally met with HS Hyosung Vice Chairman Cho Hyun-sang on the identical day to debate the carmaker’s gross sales technique in Korea. HS Hyosung The Class is the official dealership of Mercedes-Benz, working showrooms and repair facilities throughout the nation for the auto model.
Harman, acquried by Samsung in 2016, can also be anticipated to widen its enterprise alternatives with Mercedes-Benz and different premium carmakers.
