Vehicle OEM Hyundai Motor is looking to China for lithium-ion batteries after its South Korean battery supplier was omitted from a list of vendors permitted to provide batteries for electric cars in China.
The South Korean firm, which is planning a China model of one of its vehicles, has its hands tied due to battery firm LG Chem having its battery certification cancelled in China.
Hyundai Motor is reported to be considering a Chinese battery for a plug-in hybrid version of its Sonata sedan to be sold in China.
The current Sonata Plug-In Hybrid, which is sold in South Korea and the US uses a battery made by LG Chem.
“Considering various factors in Chinese market and price competitiveness, Hyundai Motor Company is also looking at cooperation with Chinese battery suppliers,” the company said in a statement to Reuters.
Hyundai said it plans to launch the Sonata Plug-In Hybrid in China in 2018, a year later than previously planned.
