With this initiative, Samsung SDI hopes to strengthen its competitiveness further in the small secondary cell market where it has the largest market share in the world, as well as to foster mid- and large-sized cells, including automobile cells and Energy Storage Systems (ESS), as its new growth engines.
According to industry sources on July 16, Samsung SDI plans to spend 710 billion won for investment in plants and equipment this year, about a two-fold increase from last year's 371 billion won. It also plans to increase its R&D spending up to 400 billion won this year from last year's 327 billion won. This year will mark the first year for Samsung SDI to make more than 1-trillion-won investment.
About 90 percent of its 2013 investments will be injected into the rechargeable cell business as part of its efforts to widen its lead over rivals. Samsung SDI has been leading the small secondary cell market since it overtook Sanyo in 2010.