January 13, 2023 – LG Energy Solution (LGES; KRX: 373220) and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda) today announced the formal establishment of the joint venture (JV) which will produce lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EV) produced by Honda.
The JV will begin construction of a new battery plant early this year with the goal of completion by the end of 2024 and starting mass production of advanced lithium-ion battery cells by the end of 2025. The plant aims to have an annual production capacity of approximately 40GWh. All batteries produced by the new JV will be supplied exclusively to Honda plants in North America to power battery-electric vehicles sold in North America.
The new plant will be located approximately 40 miles southwest of Columbus in Fayette County, near Jeffersonville. LGES and Honda have committed to investing $3.5 billion and creating 2,200 jobs to establish the new production facility. The companies’ overall investment related to the JV is projected to reach $4.4 billion.
<About the new JV>
| Company name | L-H Battery Company, Inc. (tentative name) |
| Location | Jeffersonville, Ohio, U.S.A. |
| Capital | $ 210 million USD (Percentage of ownership: 51% LGES, 49% Honda) |
| Corporate officers | Robert H. Lee, CEO (Currently Executive Vice President, North America Regional Group Leader of LGES) Rick Riggle, COO (Previously Plant Lead of Anna Engine Plant of Honda Development and Manufacturing of America) |
■ Comments by Robert H. Lee, CEO of L-H Battery Company, Inc.
“LG Energy Solution has all the right assets to make this joint venture a success, including the financial stability, quality, competitiveness, and production capacity with global operational expertise,” said Robert H. Lee. “With two companies’ expertise combined, we will provide top quality batteries to ensure the successful launch of Honda EVs in North America, and grow with the community here in Ohio by creating high value jobs.”
■ Comments by Rick Riggle, COO of L-H Battery Company, Inc.
“The formal establishment of this joint venture between LG Energy Solution and Honda to produce EV batteries in Ohio is another major step toward our electrified future,” said Rick Riggle. “We are excited to move forward with such a strong partner in LG Energy Solution and, together, we look forward to establishing a strong relationship with the community in Fayette County, Ohio.”