Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Lee Jae-yong is set to meet Mercedes-Benz Chief Executive Ola Källenius in Seoul next week, as the two groups look to expand their cooperation beyond in-car electronics into semiconductors, displays and electric mobility technologies.
According to industry sources on Friday, Lee and Källenius are coordinating a meeting on Nov. 13, likely to take place at Samsung’s headquarters in southern Seoul.
Källenius is coming to Seoul to attend the Mercedes-Benz Conference in Seoul the following day.
Samsung SDI Co. CEO Choi Joo-sun and Samsung Display Co. CEO Lee Chung are also expected to join the meeting, according to people familiar with the matter.
The meeting comes as global automakers race to secure advanced electronics and battery technologies to power next-generation vehicles.
Samsung and Mercedes-Benz have already been working together in areas such as infotainment systems and digital keys.
Harman International Industries Inc., wholly owned by Samsung Electronics, supplies Mercedes with its MBUX platform, the infotainment system featured in the luxury electric sedan EQS.
MEETING WITH LG ENERGY SOLUTION ALSO SCHEDULED
Industry watchers said the upcoming talks could pave the way for a broader partnership covering automotive semiconductors, batteries and high-end displays.
Samsung’s Device Solutions division, which oversees its semiconductor business, as well as Samsung SDI, already supply chips and batteries to carmakers, including BMW and Audi, but have yet to form a major supply deal with Mercedes-Benz.
Källenius is also expected to meet executives from other South Korean battery makers such as LG Energy Solution Ltd. during his visit, following similar discussions with LG Group’s top management in March last year.
The meeting underscores the growing convergence between Korea’s electronics champions and Europe’s leading automakers as both industries seek to gain an edge in the fiercely competitive future mobility market.
