# BMW picks Samsung SDI and LG Energy Solution for Gen6 EV batteries
*Samsung SDI will build the cylindrical cells in Europe while LG Energy Solution manufactures US supply for Neue Klasse platforms starting in the late 2020s.*
**Published:** November 9, 2026
**By:** Mina Okoro
**Section:** Batteries & Electric Vehicles — Cross-border
**Format:** Breaking
**Confidence:** high
**Source:** https://eastasiabrief.com/batteries-ev/bmw-picks-samsung-sdi-lg-energy-solution-gen6-ev-1275
**Publisher:** East Asia Brief (https://eastasiabrief.com/)
---
## What to know
- BMW contracts Samsung SDI in Europe and LG Energy Solution in the US for Gen6 cells
- The deal breaks a 100% Chinese duopoly on BMW's European Gen6 battery supply
- Commercial shipments commence in the late 2020s to support Neue Klasse electric models
*Robotic arms move cylindrical battery cells along a conveyor line as technicians monitor operations inside an automated production plant. (AI-generated image)*
BMW Group contracted South Korean battery makers Samsung SDI and LG Energy Solution on Nov. 9, 2026, to supply sixth-generation cylindrical cells for its global electric vehicle lineup.
Under the multi-year agreements, Samsung SDI will manufacture cells at its established facilities in Europe. LG Energy Solution will produce cells at its operational plants in the United States.
BMW did not disclose total contract values or gigawatt-hour allocations for either supplier. Standard production hubs for its Neue Klasse platform typically require 20 gigawatt-hours of annual cell capacity.
Both manufacturers will begin commercial cell deliveries from the late 2020s onward. The components will power BMW's upcoming Neue Klasse electric models, including the next-generation iX3 sport utility vehicle.
The contract marks a strategic diversification for BMW in Europe. The German carmaker had previously relied entirely on Chinese cell makers Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. and EVE Energy for European Gen6 contracts.
Contemporary Amperex Technology, known as CATL, and EVE Energy held 100% of BMW's previously awarded European Gen6 supply volume. Samsung SDI now creates a three-supplier cohort for European vehicle assembly.
The sixth-generation cells feature a standardized 46-millimeter cylindrical format. The architecture integrates cells directly into the battery pack, increasing energy density and cutting pack-level manufacturing expenses by up to 50%.
The procurement contracts follow BMW's "local for local" manufacturing principle. The carmaker purchases core components close to where vehicle assembly takes place to reduce freight distances and cushion logistical shocks.
Procurement diversification is an integral part of group purchasing strategy, BMW AG Board Member for Purchasing and Supplier Network Nicolai Martin said. The partnerships strengthen regional value creation in Europe and the United States, Martin said.
In Europe, Samsung SDI will fulfill deliveries from its manufacturing base in Goed, Hungary. The Hungarian site has served as Samsung SDI's core European production hub since commercial operations began in 2018.
Samsung SDI has supplied prismatic cells to BMW since 2009, beginning with the early BMW i3. The Nov. 9 agreement integrates the Korean supplier into BMW's large-format cylindrical cell platform for the first time.
In the United States, LG Energy Solution joins Envision AESC in BMW's regional battery supply roster. Envision AESC is building a 30-gigawatt-hour cell plant in Florence, South Carolina, to support BMW's Spartanburg vehicle assembly plant.
BMW is investing $700 million in Woodruff, South Carolina, to construct a dedicated high-voltage battery assembly center. The facility will package imported and regionally sourced cells into finished packs for electric SUV assembly.
LG Energy Solution operates wholly owned plants and joint ventures across North America. The carmaker did not specify which American facility will produce the Gen6 cylindrical cells for BMW.
The shift toward South Korean partners reflects mounting pressure on European automakers to manage supply chain concentration risks. Chinese manufacturers produce roughly 75% of global electric vehicle battery cells.
European Union regulations also impose strict battery carbon footprint thresholds and supply-chain due diligence rules. Sourcing cells within the continent allows automakers to verify renewable energy usage and reduce transport emissions.
For Samsung SDI, the BMW supply agreement validates its strategic expansion into 46-millimeter cylindrical batteries. The supplier operates a pilot line in Cheonan, South Korea, and is adding commercial lines in Europe.
For LG Energy Solution, the agreement deepens its presence among European premium brands with American assembly operations. LG Energy Solution also supplies cylindrical cells to Tesla and pouch cells to General Motors and Hyundai Motor Group.
The Korean battery sector has contended with an electric vehicle demand slowdown across Europe and North America throughout 2025 and 2026. Long-term volume commitments from premium German manufacturers offer operational visibility for capital expenditures already deployed.
German vehicle manufacturers continue to recalibrate battery procurement across different cell form factors. While BMW focuses on cylindrical cells for Gen6, other German luxury brands maintain split portfolios across prismatic and pouch formats.
BMW is expanding its internal battery competence network alongside external contracts. The group operates pilot and pre-series cell manufacturing centers in Munich and Parsdorf, Germany, to evaluate proprietary chemistry formulations before awarding commercial production contracts.
BMW did not disclose the contract values, gigawatt-hour volume allocations or multi-year expiration dates for either partnership. The company also did not state whether raw materials will be procured directly by BMW or through the cell makers.
Commercial deliveries under both supplier agreements will commence in the late 2020s as Neue Klasse assembly lines scale in Debrecen, Munich, San Luis Potosi and Spartanburg.
## Impact map
| Event | Korea | China | Japan | Global impact |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| BMW Gen6 battery cell contracts | Samsung SDI and LG Energy Solution secure multi-year volume for European and US assembly | CATL and EVE Energy lose exclusive European Gen6 allocation as BMW introduces third supplier | Japanese equipment vendors gain indirect tooling exposure to Samsung SDI Hungary expansion | European EV battery supply chain diversifies away from concentrated Chinese cell reliance |
## In this story
- **Companies:** BMW Group, Samsung SDI, LG Energy Solution
- **Tickers:** BMW.DE, 006400.KS, 373220.KS
- **Exposed:** Contemporary Amperex Technology, EVE Energy, Envision AESC
- **Impact:** Supply Chain, Order Book
## Primary sources
1. bmwgroup.com
2. aitimes.kr
3. theedgesingapore.com
4. morningstar.com
5. 4th.kr
---
Cite as: East Asia Brief, "BMW picks Samsung SDI and LG Energy Solution for Gen6 EV batteries," November 9, 2026. https://eastasiabrief.com/batteries-ev/bmw-picks-samsung-sdi-lg-energy-solution-gen6-ev-1275