Samsung SDI has overhauled its cooperation structure with General Motors to respond to changes in the North American market. Samsung SDI said on Tuesday it signed a joint development agreement (JDA) with GM to jointly develop next-generation prismatic batteries for electric vehicles and will acquire all of GM's 49.99 percent stake in the SynergyCells joint venture.

The two companies agreed to jointly research and develop prismatic batteries applying Samsung SDI's high energy density and fast-charging technologies. Batteries developed under the agreement are expected to be installed in GM's next-generation electric vehicle models. Once the stake acquisition is completed, Samsung SDI will have its first standalone battery plant in North America.

SynergyCells is an electric vehicle battery production company established by Samsung SDI and GM in 2024 with a $3.5 billion investment in New Carlisle, Indiana, with annual capacity of 27 GWh. Construction of the plant is under way, and Samsung SDI plans to mass-produce various advanced battery products at the site, including jointly developed prismatic batteries.

Samsung SDI will also build production lines at the plant for batteries for energy storage systems (ESS). It has signed a series of large-scale contracts since last year to supply ESS batteries to major U.S. energy companies, and aims to take the lead in the fast-growing North American ESS market. A company official said, "We will continue the two companies' joint efforts for the future era of electric vehicles at this plant, while also responding actively to U.S. ESS demand."