Battery shortage hits I-Pace production

Jaguar is pausing I-Pace production due to a shortage of batteries from LG Chem, The Times reports.

It’s closing the I-Pace production line in Graz, Austria, for a week from February 17 as a result.

Audi has made production target cuts to its e-tron, Mercedes-Benz reportedly to its EQC (although denied by Daimler) and Hyundai delayed some EV production in 2017, also due to battery constraints.

Jaguar reportedly signed a deal for cylindrical cells with Samsung SDI in 2018, though they use LG pouch cells for the multi-award winning I-Pace, Electrek says.

It notes the I-Pace – the 2019 World Car of the Year – has been successful for the company, not only winning awards but selling around 18,000 cars worldwide last year – 12,000 of those in Europe.

Electrek says LG Chem appears to have overextended itself on battery supply agreements. The South Korean manufacturer of lithium ion batteries mainly supplies the I-Pace from its factory in Poland.

Other media report that automotive companies planning to significantly increase EV production during the next 10 years could see more pressure on battery makers to keep up with demand.

Some say the likes of Tesla and Volkswagen make their own batteries or have made deals with various battery suppliers to avoid any battery shortages.

Recent car production issues in some areas have been blamed on the coronavirus spread. Tesla, for instance, is due this week to resume Model 3 production at its Shanghai Gigafactory in China after a short delay because of the virus.