Kia Motors, a prominent South Korean automaker, has recently joined Hyundai Motor in fully disclosing the battery manufacturers for its electric vehicles. This move comes as part of a growing trend in the automotive industry towards transparency and consumer awareness regarding the components used in electric vehicles. On August 12th, Kia announced the battery manufacturers for seven of its electric vehicle models on its official website, making it the second automaker in South Korea to do so, following in the footsteps of Hyundai.
The disclosure by Kia covers a range of electric vehicle models, including the now-discontinued Soul EV, as well as dedicated electric vehicles like the EV3, EV6, and EV9. Additionally, the Niro EV, Ray EV, and Bongo III EV are also included in the list of models for which battery manufacturers have been revealed. This level of transparency is a positive step towards building trust with consumers and ensuring that they are well-informed about the components used in their vehicles.
Specifically, Kia has disclosed that the Ray EV (produced after August 2023) and the second-generation Niro EV are equipped with batteries from CATL, a leading Chinese manufacturer. On the other hand, the Ray EV produced between 2011 and 2017 featured batteries from the domestic supplier SK On. The EV6 and EV9 models from Kia are equipped with batteries from SK On, while the recently launched EV3 uses batteries from another domestic company, LG Energy Solution. The Niro EV (DE model), Bongo III EV, and Soul EV all come with batteries from either SK On or LG Energy Solution.
This move by Kia follows in the footsteps of Hyundai Motor, which recently disclosed the battery manufacturers for its electric vehicles on its website, becoming the first automaker in South Korea to do so. With the exception of the Kona Electric, which uses batteries from China’s CATL, the remaining 12 models from Hyundai are equipped with domestic batteries from LG Energy Solution and SK On. This trend towards transparency in the automotive industry is crucial in light of recent incidents involving electric vehicles and battery fires.
The disclosure of battery manufacturers by Kia and Hyundai comes in response to growing consumer inquiries about the origin of batteries in electric vehicles sold in South Korea. This increased scrutiny follows incidents such as the battery fire in a Mercedes-Benz EQE, which was revealed to have been supplied by the Chinese company Farasis. By providing consumers with information about the battery manufacturers for their electric vehicles, Kia and Hyundai are taking proactive steps to address concerns and build trust with their customers.
In conclusion, Kia’s decision to disclose the battery manufacturers for its electric vehicles is a positive step towards transparency and consumer awareness. By providing this information, Kia is empowering consumers to make informed decisions about their vehicle purchases and ensuring that they are aware of the components used in their vehicles. This move sets a precedent for other automakers to follow suit and prioritize transparency in the electric vehicle market.