SK Battery America

What SK Battery America does

SK Battery America, Inc. (SKBA) is a private US battery cell manufacturer headquartered in Commerce, Georgia, and the flagship North American operating entity of SK On, the EV battery subsidiary of South Korea's SK Group (spun off from SK Innovation in October 2021). Founded in 2019, SKBA operates a 2.7 million square-foot, 22 GWh manufacturing campus in Commerce — Factory 1 entered mass production in 2021 and Factory 2 in 2023 — with additional cell and module output staged through the BlueOval SK joint venture with Ford (Kentucky and Tennessee plants under construction) and the HSBMA joint venture with Hyundai (Kingston, Georgia). The business is a Tier-1 supplier of high-energy-density lithium-ion battery cells and modules to global automotive OEMs, with disclosed customers and partners including Ford, Hyundai, Kia, and Mercedes-Benz, and an installed footprint that, at the Georgia site alone, is stated as capable of powering approximately 300,000 EVs annually.

The technical proposition centers on three proprietary technology pillars developed by parent SK On and produced by SKBA: (1) Z-folding electrode stacking, claimed to deliver world-leading high-speed stacking precision and to minimize internal short-circuit risk; (2) ceramic-coated separator (CCS) and multi-layer coating (MCS) technology, stated to improve high-speed charging performance by up to 24% versus single-side coating; and (3) high-nickel cathode materials, with mass-produced generations progressing from NCM622 (2014) to NCM811 (2018) to NCM9½½ (2022, approximately 90% nickel), targeting cell-level energy density of 1,000 Wh/L or higher and complemented by silicon-anode development for next-generation products. SK Battery America does not market software, AI, or aftermarket services in the input data; its product set is purely hardware — lithium-ion cells and assembled modules — embedded directly into OEM vehicle platforms.

The revenue model is hardware sales to enterprise automotive OEMs under multi-year direct supply agreements and JV-based co-manufacturing. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, reflecting confidential B2B contracting. SKBA is funded via SK On corporate capital rather than external venture or growth equity, with a stated $2.6 billion capital investment into US operations. Revenue concentration is high across a small number of top-tier OEM customers; go-to-market is oem_embedded and enterprise field sales, with no consumer-facing distribution, no third-party resellers, and no disclosed recurring software or services revenue stream.

Name

SK Battery America

Legal name

SK Battery America, Inc.

Website

https://skbatteryamerica.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

SK Battery America is a US subsidiary of SK On that manufactures high-nickel lithium-ion EV battery cells and modules in Commerce, Georgia, supplying Tier-1 automotive OEMs including Ford, Hyundai, Kia, and Mercedes-Benz through direct supply agreements and joint ventures.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Vehicle Battery Manufacturing

NAICS

Battery Manufacturing (33591), Battery Manufacturing (335910)

SIC

Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Battery Cell Manufacturing (EV) (IMACACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Battery Cells (Li-ion, LFP, Sodium-ion, Lead-acid, NiMH) (IMAGAHAA), Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly) (IMAGAHAB), Battery Pack Manufacturing & Module Assembly (EUAFABAI)

Keywords

• Electric vehicle batteries
• Lithium-ion battery cells
• Battery modules
• High-nickel cathode batteries
• Automotive battery manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Commerce

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. EV Battery Cell and Module Sales: Manufactures and sells lithium-ion battery cells and modules to automotive OEMs for electric vehicles. Revenue generated through supply agreements with major automotive manufacturers including Ford, Hyundai, Kia, and Mercedes-Benz. Products include NCM9 battery with nearly 90% nickel composition for superior energy density.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SK Battery America manufactures and supplies high-energy density lithium-ion battery cells and modules for electric vehicles, sold under direct B2B supply agreements and joint ventures with major automotive OEMs (Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Daimler Mercedes-Benz). The batteries are built on proprietary high-nickel cathode chemistry (NCM622, NCM811, NCM9½½) and are produced at the 22 GWh Commerce, Georgia facility (Factory 1 since 2021, Factory 2 since 2023).

Product overview

SK Battery America is a global leading manufacturer of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, operating as the flagship U.S. entity of SK On. The company's product portfolio centers on high-energy density lithium-ion battery cells for electric vehicles, utilizing proprietary high-nickel cathode chemistry (NCM622, NCM811, and NCM9½½) developed through in-house technology. The offering is organized around three core proprietary technology pillars — Z-folding stacking technology for safety, ceramic coated separator (CCS) and multi-layer coating (MCS) for fast charging, and high-nickel cathode materials for energy density — which collectively differentiate SKBA's EV battery products. The company operates two manufacturing factories in Georgia, USA, producing battery cells that are supplied to global automotive manufacturers including Ford (BlueOval SK joint venture) and Hyundai (HSBMA joint venture), and distributed through a global production and supply network spanning North America, Europe, and Asia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electric Vehicle Battery Cells and Modules High-energy density lithium-ion battery cells and modules supplied to global automotive OEMs for electric vehicles, based on high-nickel cathode technology (NCM622, NCM811, NCM9½½). Manufactured in Georgia, USA (Factory 1 in Commerce since 2021, Factory 2 since 2023) and distributed through a global network spanning North America, Europe, and Asia. Customers include Ford, Hyundai, Kia, and Mercedes-Benz.
• NCM9 Battery Lithium-ion battery cell with approximately 90% nickel cathode composition (nickel, manganese, cobalt), delivering superior energy density and extended driving range for electric vehicles. Developed by SK On and produced by SK Battery America as the preferred choice for high-performance EV applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24% improvement in high-speed charging speed compared to single-side coating technology
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and strategic.

• FordcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022BlueOval SK joint venture partnership for EV battery manufacturing. SK On and Ford established joint manufacturing plants in Kentucky (plants 1 & 2) and Tennessee (plant 1) to supply batteries for Ford electric vehicles. This is a flagship strategic partnership representing billions in joint investment.
• HyundaicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSBMA (Hyundai-SK Battery America) joint venture established in Kingston, Georgia for EV battery manufacturing. Strategic manufacturing partnership for Hyundai electric vehicles.
• SK OncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSK On is the parent company and global EV battery leader. SK Battery America is the flagship entity of SK On in North America. SK On provides technology leadership including Z-folding technology, CCS coating, and high-nickel cathode materials.
• Georgia National Guard - Work for WarriorsminorOthersPartnership supporting veterans by providing meaningful work opportunities in EV battery manufacturing. Bridges the gap between military service and civilian employment.
• U.S. Army - Partnership for Your Success (PaYS)minorOthersStrategic alliance bringing together U.S. Army and corporations to offer soldiers employment opportunities upon completion of military service. SKBA committed to providing interviews and job opportunities to veterans.
• BAIC GroupstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerBESK joint venture established in 2013 with BAIC Group and Beijing Electronics Holding to supply batteries for electric taxis in Beijing, China.
• EVE EnergystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint ventures in China - SK On Jiangsu JV and EUE JV in Huizhou for battery manufacturing and supply in the Chinese EV market.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• LG Energy Solution: Korean-headquartered lithium-ion battery cell manufacturer with major US gigafactories (Michigan, Ohio JV with GM, Arizona with Stellantis) directly competing for North American EV cell supply contracts — closest like-for-like peer to SKBA.
• Envision AESC: Battery cell manufacturer with US gigafactory projects (Kentucky, South Carolina) supplying multiple global OEMs — directly comparable mid-scale EV battery peer operating a similar US localisation thesis.
• Samsung SDI: Korean battery cell maker with US operations (JV with Stellantis in Kokomo, IN) producing high-nickel NCM cells for global automotive OEMs — directly comparable high-nickel chemistry and US gigafactory footprint.
• Panasonic: Operates the Tesla Nevada Gigafactory and is expanding to Kansas/De Soto — a large incumbent Li-ion cell manufacturer with embedded OEM supply relationships comparable to SKBA's BlueOval SK and HSBMA structures.

Broad incumbents

• BYD: Vertically integrated EV and battery maker producing LFP Blade cells at massive scale; defines the cost-competitive threat that limits the pricing power of every NCM-focused supplier including SKBA.
• CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology): World's largest EV battery manufacturer offering LFP and NCM cells across chemistries; sets the global cost and scale benchmark that SKBA's US-anchored high-nickel strategy must compete against.

Emerging players

• Our Next Energy (ONE): US-based battery company developing LFP and dual-chemistry packs for commercial and passenger EVs — an emerging niche US player competing for similar OEM localisation mandates.
• Solid Power: US-headquartered solid-state battery developer with JV partnerships with BMW and Ford; while chemistry is different, it represents the next-gen automotive battery peer whose commercial ramp could erode demand for SKBA's Li-ion lines.
• KORE Power: US-based battery cell manufacturer building a 21 GWh facility in Arizona with US-localised Li-ion cells for automotive and storage — same US gigafactory thesis as SKBA, but earlier-stage and independent.

Regional players

• EVE Energy: Chinese battery cell and energy storage manufacturer active in EV applications via JVs; SK On already has a JV with EVE Energy in Huizhou (China) — a comparable cell manufacturer with overlapping customer base in Asia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/skbatteryamerica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skbatteryamerica

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SK Battery America