Last August, we reported on a pending lawsuit between rival South Korean electric vehicle battery makers LG Chem and SK Innovation. LG filed the battery lawsuit against SK alleging that it had stolen trade secrets, and also requested that courts prevent SK innovation from establishing a battery production facility in the U.S. This would be a major problem for FoMoCo, as it plans on using SK as its electric Ford F-150 battery supplier.
Ford quickly threw its support behind SK and submitted a written opinion on the matter to the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), which stated that the automaker chose SK prior to the controversy, and noted that if the ruling is upheld, it will cause significant production setbacks and loss of employment. Additionally, despite LG’s statement that it could supply these batteries instead of SK, Ford noted that this wasn’t an option.
“Different electric vehicles use different batteries and, as such, supplier selection has to be carried out at least four years before the initial production,” Ford said in the opinion. “The argument that LG Chem can take the place of SK Innovation is unacceptable in this regard, and LG Chem’s plants under expansion in Ohio and Michigan are facilities focusing on supply to GM, Nissan, and Tesla and have no room for us.”
The USITC was originally scheduled to make a final ruling on the matter on October 5th, but that decision has since been delayed to today – February 10th. If the commission sides with LG, the decision could seriously hamper EV production in the U.S., not only in regards to the electric Ford F-150 battery, but also the Volkswagen ID.4, which is also slated to use batteries from SK Innovation.
SK plans to start production at its Commerce, Georgia plant late this year and expects to hire 2,600 people by the beginning of 2024. However, those plans, along with the future of EVs in America, hinge on the USITC’s decision.
We’ll have more on this historic ruling as soon as it’s available, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for 24/7 Ford news coverage.
Comments
i hope lg wins. the us does not need electric cars right now. or ever
Not too long ago, I had a conversation in a bar with a very attractive young lady from the land down under. We talked about faith and God and it was very clear to me that she has spent every moment of her life thinking about our Lord and about how beautiful Heaven must be….she was definitely the most loving person I have ever met on this Earth….and she longed for Heaven more than anything. And so I asked her: “You have been so good all of your life and there is nothing that you desire more than to go to Heaven and to be with Jesus….but suppose when you get to Heaven’s Gates….Saint Peter tells you that you have been so good all of your life that you can actually hurt satan if you chose to go to the lake of Fire….what do you do?” Without hesitating, she told me that she would choose to hurt satan! How could such a good person decide to give up everything that she ever wanted in order to hurt the evil one? I told her that she was the only one whom I asked this question who never even hesitated in her response….but that she should not worry….that there will be another one in the fire…standing next to her….and she just smiled at me….what a beautiful smile that was…makes the fire painless!
It has been a very cool January here in central Florida. I love to bring out my Turbo S when the temperature dips below 40….and the unsuspecting TESLAs are such easy prey. And so on one cool night…I was enjoying Hillsong in my beautiful mahogony Panamera when some liberal sociaIist pulled up in a satanic black P100D at a red light….blasting some Manson crap on his lousy stereo. I let all my windows down and cranked up my Burmester to the max…..clearly the TESLA atheist wanted to race. I didn’t even look at him…they all disgust me….I just listened to the music and watched the light…”I can see the light in the darkness…..As the darkness bows to Him….I can hear the roar in the heavens…..As the space between wears thin”…and then the light turned green.….the cold weather chemistry in the TESLA battery had no chance…and the atheist lost again…they always do…..for there was no hesitation in my PANAMERA when I floored it…. my twin turbos gain more power in the winter….and then the most beautiful and powerful voice filled that night…..”There was another in the fire
Standing next to me…”
Recycling EV batteries pollutes the environment and Mother Earth is still brewing petroleum. “Fossil fuel” is an old, liberal wives tale. Petroleum is not the emaciated remains of dinosaurs. Sheesh! How freakin’ gullible clueless college students are. It’s not a wonder when that is the garbage they are brainwashed with.
We could all walk or ride bikes…that could take care of the health issues…:-)