｜ 'Largest Ever' InterBattery 2025 Opens

The entrance of 'InterBattery 2025,' which opened on the 5th, is bustling with officials and visitors. Photo by Yonhap News

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Amid a triple challenge of the temporary growth stagnation in the electric vehicle market (chasm), aggressive low-cost competition from China, and the possible launch of a second Donald Trump administration, domestic battery companies expressed confidence, projecting a recovery in performance starting in the second half of this year.

On the 5th, at the opening of 'InterBattery 2025' held at COEX in Seoul, Kim Dongmyung, CEO of LG Energy Solution, told reporters, "After hitting the bottom in the first quarter, the market situation is expected to improve in the second half," adding, "Now is the time to prepare thoroughly for when the market stabilizes and demand increases in the future."

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Kim highlighted the intellectual property (IP) secured by LG Energy Solution as a new weapon. He emphasized, "We have the largest number of intellectual property rights in the industry and will leverage them to gain a competitive edge over Chinese companies." Regarding the recent tariff policies of the Trump administration, he said, "Fundamentally, I understand it as a policy to encourage domestic production in the US," adding, "Since we have many factories in the US, I expect we will benefit from being early entrants."

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Choi Joosun, CEO of Samsung SDI, also said, "The first quarter seems to have been the bottom, and we expect a gradual recovery from the second quarter," adding, "We have secured customers for our 46-series cylindrical batteries and will soon begin mass production." Park Kisoo, head of R&D at SK On, stated, "We have completed the development of prismatic batteries and are focusing the company's full capabilities on securing customers."

On the 5th, visitors are riding bicycles at the POSCO booth at 'InterBattery 2025' held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

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Um Gicheon, the newly appointed CEO of POSCO Future M, said, "Although electric vehicle production is decreasing due to the chasm, we have set a higher target for cathode material shipments compared to last year," adding, "Thanks to our planned projects, we will further increase production." Choi Moonho, CEO of Ecopro BM, said, "Our development of sulfide-based all-solid-state electrolytes, which we have been working on for three years, is progressing well, and we expect to begin mass production by the end of 2026."

InterBattery 2025, which runs until the 7th, features a record 688 participating companies. 79 Chinese companies, including BYD, the world's top electric vehicle manufacturer, and EVE Energy, ranked 9th in global battery shipments, have also set up booths, setting the stage for a technological showdown between Korea and China.

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LG Energy Solution will unveil its 46-series cylindrical battery, which offers higher energy and output compared to the existing 2170 cell. Samsung SDI will showcase its 50-ampere (A) ultra-high-output cylindrical battery, which significantly boosts output compared to previous batteries. SK On will present its 'pouch-type high-voltage mid-nickel battery,' which features high energy density, price competitiveness, and enhanced safety.

On the 5th, a model of the underside of an electric vehicle equipped with the 46-series battery was displayed at the LG Energy Solution booth at InterBattery 2025 held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

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POSCO Future M will demonstrate the completion of POSCO Group's value chain through supply chain diversification in nickel, graphite, and recycling. Korea Zinc plans to introduce its high-nickel precursor manufacturing technology, which has been designated as a national advanced technology. The Lotte Group chemical affiliates, including Lotte Chemical, Lotte Energy Materials, and Lotte Infracell, will exhibit separator materials, electrolyte organic solvents, ultra-high-end copper foil, high-quality aluminum cathode foil, and cell pouches.

EcoPro booth at 'InterBattery 2025' held on the 5th at COEX, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Asia Economy DB

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Ecopro will unveil future growth engines such as its integrated cathode material subsidiary in Indonesia and the development of new all-solid-state materials. Sungil Hi-Tech will showcase its battery recycling plant and the latest eco-friendly recycling technologies. L&F will display high-nickel cathode materials containing more than 95% nickel. In addition, companies such as Eugene Technology, Mintech, Ubat, and Mona will introduce innovative products that have won the 'InterBattery Awards 2025.' LG Chem has also set up its own booth for the first time since its spin-off, while Samhwa Paint and Rumplear are participating for the first time.

During InterBattery, a variety of side events will be held, including conferences, recruitment briefings, US investment briefings, and battery mineral seminars.

At the opening ceremony, Ahn Dukgeun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, said, "To overcome the chasm, we will stimulate electric vehicle demand by providing tax reductions for EV purchases and expanding charging infrastructure. In addition, we plan to diversify battery demand beyond electric vehicles by increasing the energy storage system (ESS) market size up to 15 times the current domestic ESS production capacity by 2038," adding, "We will actively consider various policy tools such as fiscal, tax, and fund support to promote domestic production of key battery minerals and materials, including anode materials."