In a surprising turn of events, South Korean tech giant Samsung SDI announced on February 8, 2025, the recall of 180,000 electric vehicles (EVs) due to defects found in battery separatorsThis maneuver has reignited a simmering technological rivalry among China, Japan, and South Korea while simultaneously casting a glaring spotlight on the safety concerns surrounding electric vehicle batteries on a global scale.

Recent statistics reveal that in 2024, South Korean battery manufacturers—including LG, SK, and Samsung—combined to hold an 18.5% market share, narrowly dipping below the 20% thresholdThis regression is further evidenced by their representation in the global leaderboard of battery output, as only LG made the top ten, representing the sole non-Chinese brand at a fragile tenth position in the Chinese battery market.

The pressing question is: do Chinese brands hold an indomitable local advantage in technology, or have they truly outpaced their South Korean counterparts? Consumers face a dilemma; should they consciously avoid South Korean batteries when selecting an electric car to ensure their safety?

Investigations into Samsung's recall highlighted that the problematic batteries—produced between July 2020 and March 2023—were primarily fitted in popular models including the Ford Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Audi A7, Audi Q5, and Jeep Wrangler 4xe, among othersFortunately for consumers in China, these recalled batteries and affected vehicle models do not extend to the local market, as Samsung SDI had significantly reduced its presence in China post-2020.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report, the core issue rests upon occasional ruptures in the separator layers within the battery cellsSuch breaches can lead to unintended contacts between positive and negative terminals, setting off thermal runaway reactions and potentially resulting in firesWhile select models from Ford and Lincoln are equipped with preemptive alert systems to notify drivers of abnormalities, other brands such as Audi and Stellantis' vehicles lack similar measures.

The separator, a microscopically thin layer situated between the battery's electrodes, is critical for the safety performance of a battery

Advertisements

The uneven thickness and irregular distribution of micro-pores in the affected cells were flagged by testing agencies, leading to severe deterioration post a certain number of charge-discharge cyclesAn alarming instance involved a Jeep Wrangler 4xe owner receiving warning alerts from their battery management system shortly after charging, which was confirmed to stem from local separator failure resulting in a short circuit.

Such manufacturing flaws would prove negligible to leading battery producers in China, like CATLThrough the use of advanced ceramic-coated polyolefin separators and refined micro-pore structures, they have successfully established a reliable barrier separating the positive and negative electrodes—critical for user safety.

The current crisis surrounding South Korean batteries aligns with ongoing quality issues stemming from their globalized production strategiesSouth Korean battery manufacturers depend heavily on a diverse array of suppliers for key raw materials, such as separator films, electrolytes, and lithium saltsWhile globalization may help to reduce costs, the risk of fluctuating raw material quality is significantly heightened.

Indeed, reports indicate that some separators within the recalled batches exhibited inconsistent quality across different production runsThis instability is likely to magnify over time, leading to degraded battery performance and potentially prompting safety incidentsIn contrast, China’s top manufacturers often maintain stringent control from raw materials to battery cell production, effectively minimizing supply chain disruptions and ensuring high-quality standards.

Moreover, some South Korean firms, in an effort to augment production capacities, have notoriously compromised production precision, resulting in fluctuating internal resistance and energy density metrics post extensive operationsAn alarming excerpt from an internal inspection indicated that certain battery cells exceeded accepted resistance values by 15%, increasing the risk of excessive heat and exacerbating with the likelihood of separator damage and thermal runaway.

The turning point can be traced back to 2016, a year that marked a pivotal juncture in the South Korean battery sector’s trajectory, characterized by the catastrophic failure of the Galaxy Note7 due to battery explosions

Advertisements

The contrasting recall figures—1,858 units in China compared to over 2.5 million internationally—exposed systemic flaws in the Samsung brand and hastened the decline of South Korean manufacturing superiority.

In the same pivotal year, the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology implemented stipulations that effectively barred Samsung and LG from receiving state subsidies, further eroding their competitive edge.

Stripped of their price advantages, these South Korean battery producers turned their sights towards the U.S. and European markets, only to encounter resistance due to the Inflation Reduction Act that mandates 40% of critical battery minerals to be sourced from North AmericaThis is a significant challenge since South Korea relies on China for 70% of its graphite and lithium.

As events unfolded, it became clear that the South Korean battery industry was grappling with a chronic series of dangers encompassing R&D, manufacturing, and quality controlHigh-profile incidents—including the recalls of Hyundai's Kona EV and General Motors' Bolt EV—figuratively flamed the fires of mistrust, costing manufacturers billions and shaking consumer confidence.

The fallout from Samsung's recent announcement has significantly impacted Stellantis, a global vehicle manufacturing powerhouse, which is now scrambling to repair its brand reputationRecognizing the potential ramifications, Stellantis has pledged to implement robust countermeasures to restore consumer faithFord, with its extensive customer base, may also expand its supply chain by gravitating toward additional battery suppliers as a method of 'risk mitigation.'

Previously secured relationships with renowned automakers such as BMW and General Motors appeared to bolster Samsung’s image; however, the present crisis has sparked discussions about procuring batteries from new Chinese suppliers for upcoming hybrid modelsConcurrently, the inroads made by CATL in Europe—landing significant contracts—herald a relentless erosion of Samsung's prior market share.

As South Korean batteries struggle under the weight of technological scrutiny, the diversification of Chinese battery firms is positioned to make strides, particularly through iron phosphate solutions

Advertisements

Advertisements

Advertisements