Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Mercedes-Benz Chief Executive Ola Källenius met in Seoul on Thursday to discuss expanding cooperation in next-generation automotive technologies, from batteries to digital cockpit systems, as competition in the global electric and connected-car market intensifies.
Källenius’ Seoul trip also drew an unusually high-powered turnout from Korea’s top industrial groups, such as LG and HS Hyosung, as Korean conglomerates are strengthening their partnerships with the German automaker in the age of software-defined and electrified vehicles.
DINNER AT SEUNGJIWON, SAMSUNG’S EXCLUSIVE GUESTHOUSE
The Samsung chairman, widely known in the West by his English name Jay Y. Lee, hosted Källenius for a private dinner at Seungjiwon, Samsung’s exclusive Hanam-dong guesthouse that the late Chairman Lee Kun-hee used to receive only top-tier visitors.
The incumbent chairman met only big-name business leaders, including SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg at Seungjiwon.
Industry officials said the choice of venue signals Samsung’s determination to elevate its relationship with Mercedes from a supplier link to a long-term strategic partnership.
Samsung SDI president Choi Ju-sun, Christian Sobottka, CEO of Samsung’s US-based subsidiary Harman, and other automotive parts-related executives joined the dinner.
Lee and Källenius last met at the China Development Forum (CDF) in Beijing this March.
SAMSUNG SEEKS CLOSER TIES WITH MERCEDES
Samsung already supplies Mercedes with infotainment systems through Harman and digital key solutions via Samsung Electronics, but analysts say the ties have yet to reach an “alliance-level” closeness.
Lee is said to have presented SDI’s latest high-performance battery technologies while promoting Samsung’s broader ecosystem – semiconductors, OLED displays and in-car entertainment platforms – as the foundation for a deeper collaboration.
LG’S 20-YEAR ALLIANCE WITH MERCEDES
Earlier in the day, Källenius visited LG’s headquarters in Yeouido, his first stop after arriving in Seoul.
LG Group’s top “auto parts one team” executives – LG Electronics Inc. CEO Cho Joo, LG Energy Solution Ltd. CEO Kim Dong-myung, LG Display Co. CEO Jeong Cheol-dong and LG Innotek Co. CEO Moon Hyuk-soo – attended the meeting.
LG used the meeting to highlight what it called a “full-stack” offering for next-generation vehicles, combining AI-powered cockpit agents, OLED panels, camera modules for autonomous driving and battery systems.
The companies reaffirmed a partnership that began two decades ago when LG Display first supplied vehicle screens to Mercedes in 2004.
“We aim to reinforce our strategic partnership with Mercedes-Benz, based on proven technology and trust in the global market,” said LG Electronics CEO Cho.
Källenius praised LG’s innovation record, saying: “Whenever we try something new, LG is naturally among the first partners we turn to. We had meaningful discussions with LG on vehicle AI agents and battery technologies.”
After he met with LG, the Mercedes CEO also met with HS Hyosung Vice Chairman Cho Hyun-sang, whose subsidiary HS Hyosung The Class operates as an official Mercedes-Benz dealer in Korea.
