SB LiMotive

SB LiMotive was a 50:50 joint venture established by Robert Bosch GmbH and Samsung SDI in June 2008 to develop and manufacture rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for vehicle applications. Its focus was the emerging market for hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and battery-electric vehicles, at a time when automotive manufacturers were beginning to move from demonstration programs toward commercial electrification. The venture began operations in South Korea in September 2008 and established a German subsidiary the following month. Its principal headquarters and cell-development activities were based in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, while a new cell manufacturing plant was built in Ulsan. The Ulsan facility was selected to support volume production and was constructed rapidly after its groundbreaking in 2009. It was inaugurated in November 2010, with pre-series lithium-ion cell production underway and series production planned for the following year. SB LiMotive operated across the battery value chain. It offered individual lithium-ion cells, modules, and complete battery systems, and also provided engineering support involving battery-management software, thermal-management and cooling systems, system integration, and customer-specific development. In Germany, its Stuttgart-Feuerbach operation worked on battery-system development and prototypes and hosted sales, marketing, management, and key-account activities. The company’s international structure was intended to combine Samsung SDI’s battery and cell expertise with Bosch’s automotive-systems engineering, manufacturing, and customer relationships. In July 2009, SB LiMotive acquired the U.S. battery company Cobasys. Cobasys operated facilities in Orion Township, Michigan, and Springboro, Ohio. Its activities included nickel-metal-hydride battery manufacturing and engineering assistance for lithium-ion battery packs. The acquisition expanded SB LiMotive’s North American engineering and manufacturing footprint and gave the venture additional access to automakers developing electrified vehicles. By the end of 2010, SB LiMotive employed approximately 700 people worldwide. The venture identified several vehicle programs as potential customers. It planned to supply lithium-ion cells for BMW’s electric-vehicle work associated with the Megacity Vehicle project. It also planned to provide complete lithium-ion battery systems for the Fiat 500 EV, with cell production in Ulsan and battery-pack assembly in Springboro, Ohio. Chrysler intended to introduce the Fiat 500EV in the United States from 2012, although the partnership did not remain intact through the full commercial development period. Bosch and Samsung SDI announced the dissolution of SB LiMotive in September 2012. The breakup divided the venture’s activities rather than ending either parent’s involvement in automotive batteries. Samsung retained the Ulsan lithium-ion cell production facility and the development center in Giheung. Bosch absorbed the battery-system business in Stuttgart-Feuerbach, while Cobasys LLC was integrated into Bosch. Samsung paid Bosch $95 million for Bosch’s half of the joint venture, and the companies agreed to mutual access to approximately 3,000 patents. After the dissolution, Samsung SDI and Bosch continued their automotive battery activities independently under their own corporate structures.

SB LiMotive was created in June 2008 as an equal joint venture between Bosch and Samsung SDI. The partners sought to establish a dedicated business for automotive lithium-ion batteries, an area expected to become increasingly important as manufacturers developed hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric vehicles. The venture was designed to combine Samsung SDI’s experience in rechargeable battery cells with Bosch’s automotive electronics, engineering, and systems-integration capabilities. The company started operations in South Korea in September 2008 and formed SB LiMotive Germany GmbH in October of the same year. Its headquarters and cell-development activities were located in Yongin, in Gyeonggi Province. A second Korean site was developed in Ulsan for manufacturing. The Ulsan plant broke ground in 2009 and was constructed in approximately nine months. It was inaugurated in November 2010, when the company was producing lithium-ion cells for pre-series projects and preparing for planned series production. SB LiMotive’s German operation in Stuttgart-Feuerbach concentrated on battery-system development and prototype construction. It also served as a base for international sales, marketing, management, and key-account activities. The company’s scope extended beyond cell production: it supplied or developed complete battery systems and supported customers with battery-management software, cooling and thermal-management technology, and engineering services. The venture expanded into the United States in July 2009 through the acquisition of Cobasys. Cobasys had sites in Orion Township, Michigan, and Springboro, Ohio. Its activities included nickel-metal-hydride battery manufacturing and technical support for lithium-ion battery-pack engineering. The acquisition gave SB LiMotive a North American industrial and customer-support presence. By the end of 2010, the venture employed about 700 people across its locations. SB LiMotive pursued automotive programs with major manufacturers. It planned to supply lithium-ion cells for BMW’s Megacity Vehicle electric-vehicle project. It also planned to supply complete battery systems for the Fiat 500 EV, using Ulsan for cell production and Springboro for battery-pack assembly. These projects reflected the company’s intended position as a supplier able to support customers from cell development through integrated vehicle battery systems. The partnership was ultimately short-lived. In September 2012, Bosch and Samsung SDI announced that they would end SB LiMotive as a joint venture and continue their automotive battery operations independently. Samsung retained the Ulsan cell-production site and the Giheung development center. Bosch absorbed the battery-system business based in Stuttgart-Feuerbach, and Cobasys LLC became part of Bosch. Samsung paid Bosch $95 million for Bosch’s half of the venture. As part of the separation, the partners also agreed to mutual access to approximately 3,000 patents. SB LiMotive therefore ceased to operate as a standalone joint-venture brand, while its assets, personnel, technologies, and activities were redistributed between the two parent companies.

• 2012

  Joint venture is dissolved

  [1]SB LiMotiveen.wikipedia.org

  Bosch and Samsung SDI end the partnership and divide its sites, businesses, and assets.

• 2010

  Ulsan plant inauguration

  [1]SB LiMotiveen.wikipedia.org

  SB LiMotive inaugurates the Ulsan facility, which manufactures cells for pre-series automotive projects.

• 2009

  Cobasys acquisition

  [1]SB LiMotiveen.wikipedia.org

  SB LiMotive acquires Cobasys, adding battery manufacturing and engineering facilities in Michigan and Ohio.

• 2009

  Ulsan cell plant construction begins

  [1]SB LiMotiveen.wikipedia.org

  The venture breaks ground on a lithium-ion cell manufacturing facility in Ulsan, South Korea.

• 2008

  Bosch and Samsung SDI establish SB LiMotive

  [1]SB LiMotiveen.wikipedia.org

  The two companies form a 50:50 joint venture to develop and manufacture lithium-ion batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles.

• 2008

  Operations begin in South Korea and Germany

  [1]SB LiMotiveen.wikipedia.org

  SB LiMotive begins Korean operations in September and establishes its German subsidiary in October.

An automotive electrification technology venture combining Samsung SDI’s lithium-ion battery capabilities with Bosch’s automotive engineering, systems integration, and global customer reach.

• Automotive battery cells · 2008

  Lithium-ion battery cells

  SB LiMotive developed lithium-ion cells for hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles. Cell development was centered in Yongin, while the Ulsan facility was built to manufacture cells for pre-series and planned series automotive programs. The cells were intended to serve as building blocks for vehicle battery modules and complete packs.

• Electric-vehicle battery systems · 2008

  Automotive battery systems

  The venture supplied complete lithium-ion battery systems rather than only individual cells. Its system activities included pack integration, battery-management functions, cooling and thermal-management systems, and vehicle-specific engineering. Battery-system development and prototype work were conducted in Stuttgart-Feuerbach, Germany.

• Engineering and technical services · 2008

  Battery engineering services

  SB LiMotive supported automotive customers with software, battery-management, cooling, system-integration, and prototype-engineering services. These capabilities were intended to help automakers move from battery cells to vehicle-ready energy-storage systems.

• Battery manufacturing and engineering · 2009

  Cobasys battery operations

  Following the 2009 acquisition, SB LiMotive incorporated Cobasys activities in the United States. The business manufactured nickel-metal-hydride batteries and supported engineering work for lithium-ion battery packs. After the joint venture ended, Cobasys LLC was integrated into Bosch.

• 2012

  Dissolve the Bosch–Samsung SDI joint ventureM&A

  Background

  Bosch and Samsung SDI decided to continue their automotive battery activities separately rather than maintain SB LiMotive as a jointly owned company.

  Action taken

  The partners ended the joint venture. Samsung retained the Ulsan cell plant and Giheung development center; Bosch absorbed the Stuttgart-Feuerbach battery-system business and integrated Cobasys.

  Aftermath

  Samsung paid Bosch $95 million for Bosch’s half of the venture. The companies also agreed to mutual access to approximately 3,000 patents, allowing both to continue automotive battery work independently.

  Payment by Samsung SDI to Bosch for Bosch's half of SB LiMotive. $95 million (2012 dissolution)

  Source

• 2009

  Acquire CobasysM&A

  Background

  SB LiMotive sought to expand its battery manufacturing, engineering, and customer-support footprint in North America.

  Action taken

  The venture acquired U.S. battery manufacturer Cobasys and added its Michigan and Ohio operations to the SB LiMotive network.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition provided North American nickel-metal-hydride manufacturing and lithium-ion battery-pack engineering capabilities. Cobasys was later integrated into Bosch when the joint venture was dissolved.

  Source

1. 1SB LiMotiveen.wikipedia.org