Samsung SDI To Provide BMW X5 eDrive’s Battery Packs, Insiders Say
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Samsung SDI will be supplying the battery packs for BMW’s X5 plug in hybrid electric SUV, the BMW X5 eDrive — that’s what insiders at the company are saying anyways, according to a new report from Yonhap.
Given that the market research firm IHS has made similar predictions, the prediction does seem fairly likely to have some truth to it. The Yonhap report noted that IHS has previously speculated that Samsung SDI’s purchase of Magna Steyr’s battery pack division laid the path for the company to cozy up even further to BMW — which is exactly what getting a supply deal for the X5 would amount to.
Back in July 2014, BMW and Samsung SDI signed a memorandum of understanding to expand their supply relationship for battery cells for electro-mobility — with the launch of BMW’s X5 eDrive model set for sometime this year, the events do seem to have a pretty clear connection. While the memorandum of understanding was ostensibly concerning the BMW i3 & i8, these proposed connections seem to be fairly likely.
According to IHS, the agreement will see Samsung SDI ramp up shipments of battery cells by, at the very least, 20% to 30% until the end of the year.
These details are all going to remain speculative though, as, according to Samsung SDI, it ships its products under an arrangement that doesn’t allow for the public disclosure of specific deals.
With regard to Samsung SDI’s recent purchase of Magna International’s battery pack business (Magna Steyr), the specifics aren’t yet publicly known either — but the acquisition is expected to be completed sometime during the first half of the year.
Image Credit: Samsung SDI
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