LG Energy Solution to supply batteries to Mercedes affiliate in North America

08 October 2024 - 09:20 By Reuters
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The battery maker, whose customers include Tesla, General Motors and Hyundai, said in a regulatory filing it would supply 50.5GWh batteries from 2028 to 2038, but said it cannot disclose the monetary size of the contract.
The battery maker, whose customers include Tesla, General Motors and Hyundai, said in a regulatory filing it would supply 50.5GWh batteries from 2028 to 2038, but said it cannot disclose the monetary size of the contract.
Image: Supplied

South Korea's LG Energy Solution (LGES) said on Tuesday it signed a deal to supply electric vehicle (EV) batteries to a Mercedes-Benz affiliate in North America and other regions, sending its shares soaring.

The battery maker, whose customers include Tesla, General Motors and Hyundai, said in a regulatory filing it would supply 50.5GWh batteries from 2028 to 2038, but said it cannot disclose the monetary size of the contract.

LGES declined to comment on the specific affiliate of Mercedes involved in the contract.

Shares of LGES rose 5.7% after announcing the deal, vs benchmark KOSPI's 0.4% fall.

The contract announcement came on the same day LGES released a forecast showing a 40% fall in third-quarter operating profit to 448-billion won (R5.78bn), still higher than analyst estimates as it managed to expand supplies of EV batteries for US customers as well as batteries for energy storage systems.

The most recent LGES SmartEstimate forecasts operating profit for the three months ended September 30 at 438-billion won (R5.65bn)

LGES also said it would have booked an 18-billion won (R232.3m) operating loss without tax credits from the US Inflation Reduction Act.

LGES said it would report its full earnings on October 28.

The contract announcement was made as major carmakers including General Motors and Ford reported weaker EV sales for the latest quarter with buyers continuing to shy away from purchases on affordability concerns, and Tesla reported a smaller than expected rise in quarterly deliveries earlier this month.


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