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Samsung just bought a rumored Apple Car partner’s battery unit

Samsung-batteries

Samsung has acquired the battery pack business of leading automotive parts supplier Magna International. The move, according to a statement from the companies, will “enhance Samsung SDI’s capabilities in batteries for electric vehicles.”

While Samsung producing batteries and energy storage solutions for vehicles isn’t exactly new—it already supplies batteries for Tesla and others—there is an Apple Car connection in its latest acquisition…

If you remember hearing that Magna International name recently, it’s likely because Magna International was said to be one of the contract vehicle manufacturers that Apple met with recently when news of the company’s electric car project broke.

When The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple CEO Tim Cook approved an electric car project a year ago, it also said that Apple execs went to Austria to meet with Magna International. We profiled the team working on Apple’s electric car and noted several team members with experience in battery technologies for electric vehicles. Another report just this morning from The Korea Times claimed Apple has been in part recruiting battery experts from Samsung.

With the acquisition, Samsung hopes to enhance its existing battery business, but it’s interesting to see how Samsung could be a potential partner or competitor for Apple as it gets into the automotive world, just like in consumer electronics.

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Comments

  1. luckydcxx - 9 years ago

    I think the car manufacturing business is the 1 category that Samesung won’t copy Apple in.

  2. motilon79 - 9 years ago

    FYI in S. Korea there is already since long time ago a Samsung Car Brand (joint venture with Renault Motors)

  3. Samsung is a Conglomerate, which apple is not. Samsung motors with Renault is a venture with Samsung Card, the largest credit card provider in Korea, not Samsung Electronics which does compete with apple.

  4. Parveen Arora - 9 years ago

    Several car battery manufacturer brands are available from which Okaya is also best .

  5. Parveen Arora - 9 years ago

    Several car battery brands and maker are available in market but we choose only best brand.

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.