Webasto expands EV battery capacity to 300,000 units per annum at Korean plant

Webasto of Germany has announced that it has expanded its state-of-the-art electric vehicle battery pack factory in Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, and held a completion ceremony on May 21.

As the demand for electric vehicles continues to grow, Webasto is expanding its activities in Korea by expanding its battery pack production plant to its existing factory in Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do. The expansion comes just two years after Webasto first mass-produced EV battery packs in South Korea.

Webasto's Dangjin Battery Campus, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, produces and ships battery systems to customers in South Korea, and the completion of a new plant with more than 15,000 square metres of production and storage space has secured an additional 100,000 battery production capacity per year. This will allow it to produce up to 300,000 batteries per year by 2025.

The official opening ceremony of the new plant was attended by Joerg Sandmann, CEO of Webasto APAC, Tae-Bong Choi, CEO of Webasto Korea, and Yong-Doo Choi, Plant Manager, and guests were Marcel Bartling, Member of the Board of Directors of Webasto SE and Head of Webasto's Global Electrification Business Unit, Jehoon Choi, Head of Hyundai Motor Group's Battery Development Center, Woo-Seok Choi, Senior Vice President of Hyundai Motor Group's Electrification Parts Purchasing Office, Jörn Beißert, Deputy Ambassador of Germany to Korea, and Kim Young-myung, Vice Mayor of Dangjin.

Marcel Bartling, CEO of Webasto's Global Electrification Business Unit, said, "This expansion has demonstrated our excellent cooperation with our customers, and has strengthened Dangjin's position to serve as an important pillar for our company."

Tae-bong Choi, CEO of Webasto Korea, said, "The completion of the Dangjin second Battery Plant shows what we have achieved together so far and our vision for what we will achieve in the future. Seeing more and more cars on Korean roads with Webasto batteries as well as roof systems makes me proud of our great Korean team."

Webasto Korea, which was established in 1987 with a local joint venture partner, has been focusing on the production and sales of roof systems for many years. In 2019, the company acquired a full stake and became part of its global development and production network, allowing it to offer electrified products to Korean customers as well.

Webasto, a global innovation system partner in the mobility industry, is one of the top 100 suppliers in the automotive sector worldwide. The company focuses on the development, manufacture and sales of roof systems and vehicle electrification. Products include retractable and fixed panoramic roofs, electric high-voltage heaters and batteries, and thermal management solutions. Webasto also has a strong presence in India.

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