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LG Energy Service, India's JSW go over $1.5 bln battery venture, sources say

South Korea's LG Energy Solution remains in talks with India's JSW Energy to make batteries for electrical lorries and renewable resource storage in a joint venture that would need an investment of over $1.5. billion, two sources informed Reuters.

The two companies have signed a preliminary contract to form. an equal partnership in which LGES will contribute. the technology and equipment for making batteries and JSW. will invest cash, said one of the sources.

The conversations consist of setting up a plant in India with a. total capability of 10 gigawatt hours of which JSW is likely to. usage about 70% for energy storage and electrical vehicles and LGES. will take the rest, both sources stated.

LGES desired a partner in India and JSW is interested. since it is creating its own brand of EVs beginning with. buses and trucks, and in the future automobiles, said the 2nd individual.

The contract is non-binding and both business anticipate to. finalise the talks over coming months, stated the two sources who. have direct understanding of the conversations but declined to be. identified as the talks are still personal.

We are exploring numerous potential organization choices and. keeping an eye on market circumstance closely, LGES stated in a statement,. including that it does not have any specific plans for India.

JSW Energy declined to comment.

Reuters reported last year that LGES and JSW remained in early. talks to build batteries together in India.

For LGES, which supplies Tesla, General Motors. and Hyundai, the joint venture will develop. its production presence in India where it is the top battery. provider to e-scooter makers like Ola Electric and. home-grown rival TVS Motor.

It also offers LGES a chance to reduce its threat of. manufacturing in a nation where the EV market is still in its. infancy. Slowing EV demand in other places worldwide has already. required it to lower capital investment next year.

For JSW, whose billionaire chairman Sajjan Jindal has. openly aired his desire to develop EVs, this will be an. opportunity to protect materials in your area for its energy business. while bringing down the expense of its EVs.

The Indian steel-to-energy group last year formed a joint. venture with China's SAIC Motor providing it a 35%. stake in the Chinese carmaker's India unit, MG Motor, which it. is now helping grow.

JSW has actually proposed a 25-year contract to LGES, said the. 2nd person, including that the Indian business continues to. engage with other battery players too.

The business would like the plant to be functional before. the end of 2026 and expect to make a final decision in about 3-4. months, the very first person stated.

If the endeavor goes on it will be a win for India's Prime. Minister Narendra Modi's government that is offering companies. billions of dollars in rewards to improve regional manufacturing. of tidy cars.

Domestic carmakers Tata Motor and competing MG Motor. control India's electric cars and truck sales, while home-grown brand names. like Ola, TVS and Bajaj Car lead e-scooter sales.

(source: Reuters)