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South Korean battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution suggested that it could build a factory in the US state of Georgia to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles, an LG Energy Solution official said on Saturday.
In a letter to US Senator Raphael Warnock, LG Energy Solution CEO Kim Jong-hyun said that “the company is prepared to do everything we can to help Georgia’s people and workers,” according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
LG Chem’s battery division, LG Energy Solution, confirmed that the company had recently sent the letter to the senator, but declined to confirm the details.
Kim also said in the letter that if an outside investor acquires a separate SK Innovation factory in Georgia, LG could partner to manage the facility, reported the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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“(The letter) intended to clearly address the current situation that was caused by SK’s misappropriation of our trade secrets, as well as alleviating concerns about jobs in Georgia,” an LG Energy Solution official said in a statement to Reuters.
An SK Innovation employee rejected the idea that LG would take control of its factory.
“LG’s statement about the acquisition of the factory makes no sense, as automakers do not allow contracts and suppliers to change separately. With that said, it is unreasonable for LG to say that it could take over the factory and replace us, ”the official told Reuters.
LG’s letter came when Georgia Governor Brian Kemp repeated his request on Friday for US President Joe Biden to revoke the US International Trade Commission’s (ITC) decision against SK Innovation to save thousands of jobs in the state directly linked to the SK battery factory.
South Korean battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution suggested that it could build a factory in the US state of Georgia to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles. (iStock)
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LG Energy Solution is in a legal dispute with SK Innovation over allegations that SK has stolen trade secrets. The ITC sided with LG Chem in February and issued a 10-year order banning most US imports of SK lithium-ion batteries.
SK Innovation pressured the White House to overturn the decision, which could also be denied if SK and LG reach an independent agreement.
On Thursday, LG announced its plans to invest more than $ 4.5 billion in its battery production business in the United States over the next four years, including plans to build at least two new factories.