In Jan 2025, Global[1] EV Battery Usage[2] Posted 64.3GWh, a 25.7% YoY Growth- In Jan 2025, K-trio’s M/S recorded 16.9%
In Jan
2025, the amount of energy held by batteries for electric vehicles (EV, PHEV, HEV) registered worldwide was approximately 64.3GWh,
a 25.7% YoY growth.
(Source:
2025 Feb Global Monthly EV and Battery Monthly Tracker, SNE Research)
The combined market shares of LG Energy Solution, SK On, and Samsung SDI in global electric vehicle battery usage in Jan 2025 posted 16.9%, a 3.0%p decline from the same period of last year. LG Energy Solution remained 3rd on the list with a 10.1%(6.0GWh) YoY growth. SK On ranked 4th with a 35.0%(2.9GWh) growth. On the other hand, Samsung SDI exhibited a 23.7%(2.0GWh) degrowth. The downward trend in Samsung SDI’s battery usage was mainly caused by a decline in demand for battery from major car OEMs in Europe and North America.
(Source:
2025 Feb Global Monthly EV and Battery Monthly Tracker, SNE Research)
If we look at the usage of battery made by
the K-trio in terms of the sales volume of models, Samsung SDI’s battery was mainly
used in BMW, followed by Audi and Rivian. BMW has Samsung SDI’s battery in its
models such as i4, i5, i7, and iX, and among these, i5 released in 2023 sold
well in the market. On the other hand, even though Rivian posted a steady sale
of R1S and R1T in the US, the release of standard-range trim with LFP battery,
made by a battery maker other than Samsung SDI, had a negative impact on the
installment volume of battery made by Samsung SDI. AUDI saw a decrease in sales
of Q8 e-Tron, leading to a 23.4% decline in the usage of Samsung SDI’s battery
compared to the previous year.
SK On’s battery was mainly installed in EV
models made by Hyundai Motor Group, followed by Mercedes-Benz
and Volkswagen. Hyundai Motor Group saw a recovery in sales after the
facelifted version of IONIQ 5 and EV 6 were released. Mercedes-Benz saw
favorable sales of compact SUV EQA and EQB, to which SK On’s battery are
installed, which was similar to the same period of last year. Along with this,
solid sales of VW ID.7 and ID.4 also brought about a positive impact on growth
of battery usage made by SK On.
LG Energy Solution’s battery was mainly used by Tesla, followed by VW, Chevrolet, and Kia. In the case of Tesla, the sales decline of models equipped with LG Energy Solution batteries led to a 36.2% decrease in Tesla's usage of LG Energy Solution batteries. Meanwhile, the total usage grew by 10.1% due to strong sales of Volkswagen's ID series, Kia's EV3, and the expanded sales of Chevrolet Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado EVs, which are built on the Ultium platform.
Panasonic, which primarily supplies batteries to Tesla, remained in 5th place this year with a battery usage of 2.5 GWh. The decline in sales of the Model 3, which was temporarily halted at the beginning of the year due to a facelift, combined with Tesla's overall sales decline this year, is analyzed as the main reason. Panasonic is expected to quickly recover its battery usage in North America, primarily for Tesla, by releasing improved 2170 and 4680 cells.
China's CATL maintained its position as the
global leader, growing by 25.0% (25.0 GWh) compared to the same period last
year. In addition to key OEMs like ZEEKR, AITO, Li Auto, and Xiaomi adopting
CATL's batteries, many global major OEMs, including Tesla, BMW, Mercedes-Benz,
and Volkswagen, are also using CATL's batteries.
BYD ranked second in global battery usage with a growth rate of 42.6% (10.9 GWh). BYD, which manufactures both batteries and electric vehicles (BEV+PHEV) in-house, is gaining significant popularity by introducing a variety of electric vehicles to the market, leveraging its strong price competitiveness. In 2024, BYD's electric vehicle sales reached approximately 4.14 million units, and the company plans to maintain its growth trajectory with a target of around 6 million new vehicle sales in 2025. In particular, BYD is expanding beyond the Chinese domestic market and entering markets in Asia, including South Korea, and Europe, rapidly gaining market share.
(Source: 2025 Feb Global Monthly EV and Battery Monthly Tracker, SNE Research)
In 2025, electric vehicle sales in Europe began to show signs of recovery as subsidies were expanded in some countries. In the U.S., although there are discussions about a possible reduction in tax credits, the likelihood of a complete abolition is expected to be low. Meanwhile, China has maintained a steady growth trend, although sales temporarily slowed down in January due to the impact of the Lunar New Year holiday. With the structural reshaping of the electric vehicle market expected due to protectionist policies and regulatory changes in various countries, it is anticipated that to respond to these shifts, efforts must be strengthened in areas such as supply chain stabilization, investment in emerging markets, and the development of next-generation battery technologies. In particular, the three major Korean battery companies plan to further strengthen their competitiveness by showcasing cylindrical batteries at the <InterBattery 2025> exhibition. The three major Korean companies have led the market with their existing NCM (Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese) batteries. However, in response to changing demands from automakers, they are expanding their product portfolios to include LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries and other variations. In addition to their existing pouch-type batteries, the three companies are also offering cylindrical and prismatic batteries, shifting toward expanding customer-specific battery solutions. These changes can be seen as part of a strategy to achieve differentiation by offering customized technology solutions, going beyond just a competition of chemical performance.
[2] Based on battery installation for xEV registered during the relevant period.