South Korean electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer SK On Company Ltd announced it had signed an agreement with Nissan Motor Corporation to supply EV batteries for the Japanese automaker’s operations in the US, without disclosing the value of the deal.
SK On confirmed it has agreed to supply close to 100 GWh of batteries to Nissan from its US operations over a period of five years, starting in 2028. The high-performance, high-nickel pouch battery cells will power a new range of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to be produced at Nissan’s Canton plant in the US state of Mississippi.
While this is the first time the two companies have done business together, they had previously discussed establishing a battery manufacturing joint venture in the US. Nissan’s BEVs are currently powered by batteries made by China-based Envision AESC.
SK On, a subsidiary of South Korea’s chemicals conglomerate SK Group, has been investing heavily to establish a strong early presence in the North American EV supply chain. The company confirmed it currently operates two battery plants in the US and is building an additional four plants in partnership with other automakers, including its Blueoval SK joint venture with Ford Motor.
Last year Nissan announced plans to launch 30 new models globally by 2028, including 16 electrified models. The automaker plans to produce four BEV models at its Canton plant from 2028, according to SK On.
SK On’s president and CEO, Seok-hee Lee, said in a statement: “This agreement underscores the strength of our battery technology and our growing presence in the North American market. Leveraging our production footprint and expertise, we are committed to supporting Nissan’s electrification strategy and the broader transition to sustainable mobility.”
Christian Meunier, Chairman, Nissan Americas, pointed out: “This agreement with SK On is a significant milestone for Nissan’s electrification journey in North America and supports further investment in our US production footprint. Through this smart partnership with SK On, we can leverage their growing US production capacity to deliver innovative, high-quality electric vehicles that meet the needs of our customers.”
