SK Innovation loses U.S. battery trade case but gets temporary OK to sell to Ford, VW
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) on Wednesday sided with South Korea’s chemicals and electric vehicle (EV) battery maker LG Chem Ltd, which accused its cross-town rival SK Innovation Co Ltd of misappropriating trade secrets related to EV battery technology.
The ITC said it was issuing a limited 10-year exclusion order prohibiting imports into the United States of some lithium-ion batteries by SK Innovation, but would permit SK to import components for domestic production of lithium ion batteries and other parts for Ford Motor Co’s EV F-150 program for four years, and for Volkswagen of America’s MEB electric vehicle line for the North America region for two years.
The ITC added that SK Innovation can replace or repair its batteries in Kia vehicles sold to U.S. consumers. The move could effectively ban the company from supplying EV batteries in the United States unless the company can source all the needed materials there - a step analysts say is not feasible.
The ITC said the decision would allow the automakers to transition to new suppliers for these programs.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lg-chem-sk-innovation-lawsuit-idUSKBN2AA2WR
It will be interesting to see what will happen to SK Innovation's huge battery production plant now under construction in Georgia.