VW ‘UNINTENDED VICTIM’ IN DISPUTE OF KOREAN BATTERY MAKERS IN U.S.

Volkswagen AG called itself an “unintended victim” in a battle between two battery suppliers and urged the US government to extend a reprieve to buy batteries key to its planned US electric vehicle production, David Shepardson reported for Reuters.

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) on Wednesday sided with LG Chem in a trade secrets case, but permitted SK Innovation to import components for domestic production of lithium ion batteries for Ford Motor Co’s EV F-150 program for four years and for Volkswagen of America’s electric vehicle line for two years.

VW said it will request its reprieve be “extended to at least four years to give an adequate transition period. Ultimately, however, it is our hope the two suppliers will settle this dispute outside of the courtroom.”

The German automaker has invested $800 million to build electric vehicles in Tennessee and hiring hundreds of employees. “Volkswagen will take all necessary steps to allow us to fulfill our commitment to provide skilled jobs to proud Tennessee workers,” the automaker said.

In a separate statement, Ford Chief Executive Jim Farley publicly encouraged LG Chem and SK Innovation to reach a settlement. VW and Ford previously warned the dispute could disrupt supplies of the key EV parts and cost US jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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