SES AI expands Chungju battery plant to three million cells
The battery maker reached an annual run-rate of one million pouch cells in South Korea and is tripling capacity to meet defense-grade drone hardware demand by the second quarter of 2027.
SPBy Seung-min Park, Korea correspondent, batteries and EVs··Updated October 19, 2026·3 min read
ShareLinkedInXWhatsAppEmailA worker in protective cleanroom gear handles a component on a conveyor line at the SES AI battery manufacturing facility in Chungju. (AI-generated image)
SES AI Corporation said Oct. 19 it finished ramping its Chungju battery facility to one million cells annually and began expanding toward three million cells per year by mid-2027.
The Chungju plant operates as the company's primary manufacturing facility, producing specialized pouch cells for unmanned aerial systems. The planned expansion triples factory throughput to meet rising orders from overseas drone makers.
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Korea correspondent, batteries and EVs — Seung-min Park covers Korean cell makers and the cathode and separator suppliers behind them, including their plants in North America and Europe.
