EV battery wars heat up

Lithium-ion battery maker LG Chem is reportedly taking SK Innovation to court, alleging theft of trade secrets.

LG Chem and its American unit have filed a lawsuit against SK Innovation in the US International Trade Commission (ITC), accusing SK Innovation of misappropriation of trade secrets by hiring some of its former staff, Reuters reports.

LG Chem wants the ITC to stop SK’s imports of lithium-ion battery and infrastructure technology samples allegedly infringing LG Chem’s trade secrets into the US.

While SK Innovation makes EV batteries just in South Korea, it plans production in Hungary in 2020 and the US in 2022.

LG Chem vice chairman and chief executive officer Shin Hak Cheol says the lawsuit is to protect its core technologies and intellectual property.

SK Innovation says it will clarify the allegations.

A final ITC ruling is expected later in 2020.