Samsung SDI said it will sell about one-third of its stake in Samsung Display for KRW4.45 trillion (US$3.2 billion), converting part of its affiliate holding into cash as it prepares to invest in future battery businesses.
The US International Trade Commission (USITC) has opened a trade investigation into certain cylindrical batteries and related products. This case could affect battery supply chains spanning Asia, Europe, and North America. The move adds uncertainty for manufacturers, automakers, and consumers worldwide who depend on imported energy-storage components.
Samsung SDI is ending its battery manufacturing partnership with General Motors (GM) in Indiana, terminating a major EV joint venture — and sending ripples across the supply chain.
Chinese authorities have announced that sodium-ion batteries will be exempt from consumption tax from September 2026 through the end of 2028, while lithium batteries will once again gradually face a 2% to 4% consumption tax. The new policy creates a 28-month "lithium-sodium tax gap" of about 2% to 4%, accelerating commercialization of sodium-ion batteries and drawing previously cautious downstream buyers into the market.
Taiwanese lithium battery materials maker Aleees said it secured a 20-year supply contract with Tesla Inc. and plans to deliver at least 100,000 tons of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) precursor materials annually to support demand in the US market. The company is also searching for a new factory site, with Tainan emerging as the leading option.
Power Win Taiwan, Taiwan's largest waste battery processor, is seeing strong growth as rising electric vehicle adoption boosts demand for battery recycling, while recovering metal prices lift revenue from recycled materials.
From smartphones and smartwatches to emerging AI glasses, electric vehicles, autonomous driving systems, and the rapidly expanding drone industry, batteries have become the indispensable power source behind virtually every next-generation technology. More than just the "heart" of these products, batteries have also become one of the world's largest strategic growth markets.
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology launched surprise inspections in late July 2026 at five electric vehicle makers as Beijing widened its crackdown on "involution" industries. The checks focused on battery quality, smart-driving safety and marketing claims after years of intense price competition had raised concerns over product consistency and safety.
Factorial Energy and SK On have agreed to study whether existing battery plants could be adapted for solid-state cells, a move that could affect how next-generation batteries reach global markets. The deal underscores a broader industry push to scale cleaner, denser energy storage through established manufacturing networks, rather than entirely new factories.
