According to the above report,LGChemical will supply Tesla with a NCM 811 battery, which is the first time LG Chemical has provided a power battery to an electric car. As to why the NCM 811 battery was used, industry insiders said that the Shanghai-based plant mainly produces the popular Model 3, while the high energy density of the NCM 811 maximizes the mileage of the model, which coincides with Tesla's desire to prove to Chinese consumers that the locally produced Model 3 has industry-leading mileage.

Compared with the mainstream power batteries in the industry, NCM 811 batteries are characterized by 80 per cent or more nickel, while cobalt content is reduced to about 10 per cent, which will effectively ensure great advantages in energy density and cost, attracting many battery giants around the world, including LG chemical, SK Innovation and Ningde era, but affected by factors such as unstable metal properties. Previously, this type of battery was mainly used in commercial models such as public transport.

First Financial Journalist verifies the above information to LG Chemistry, the other side said that "there is no information that can be disclosed to the outside world for the time being". However, another South Korean power battery industry insider, who asked for anonymity, told First Financial Journalist that the selection of LG chemical batteries at Tesla Shanghai factory had become a "established fact" and that the order had made LG internal determined to make a decision to increase the capacity of Chinese factories.

At the same time, the first financial reporter learned from the insiders of LG Chemistry that under the background that the first factory of Xingang has been put into operation, the second factory (LG Chemistry Binjiang New Energy Technology Co., Ltd.) located in Nanjing Binjiang Development Zone is starting to recruit engineers, operators and technical managers and other core production posts in China. More than 100 models. The estimated annual output value of the plant after completion will reach 10 billion US dollars, exceeding the total output value of the first plant. An internal document obtained by First Financial Journalist from insiders shows that in order to attract talented people, a recommendation and reward mechanism is introduced for company employees. If the recommended job seekers succeed, the highest cash reward will be 2,000 yuan.

It is worth noting that Tesla's choice of LG chemical batteries means that more car companies are expanding the supply of batteries.

Tesla has been operating a Nevada lithium battery plant in partnership with Panasonic. There are various signs that there are some problems or differences in the cooperation between the two companies. Today, production at Nevada's lithium battery plant has not reached the planned level, and Tesla CEO Musk said on social networking sites that production of Model 3 cars was affected by Panasonic's capacity. In addition, there are also foreign media reports that Tesla is in talks with Ningde Age about battery supply, but as of press release, neither side has confirmed the above information. In the face of Tesla's "change of heart", Panasonic said on the one hand that "Panasonic and Tesla can also produce batteries in China together", on the other hand, it is also seeking to cooperate with Toyota and other enterprises to provide power batteries for Corolla, Rayling and other models.

In addition, it has been reported that Audi is in talks with BYD on battery supply and that negotiations over the cooperation between the two sides have entered a "critical stage," and industry analysts have said that the biggest reason for the cooperation is the shortage of power batteries for LG Chemistry. Audi had previously said it would cut its global production plan for e-tron SUV from 55830 to 45242 in 2019.

In addition, facing the needs of the Chinese market, the accelerated deployment of foreign-funded power batteries will also provide more choices for some potential vehicle factory customers. For example, LG Chemistry has previously announced a joint venture with Geely Automobile to produce and supply power batteries; SK Innovation is also looking for possibilities to cooperate with Evergrande Group, a Korean power battery company's think tank, predicts that as investment in Korean companies speeds up, 20 In 25 years, Korean companies will occupy 10% to 15% of China's power battery market share.

Zhang Qiang, an auto industry analyst, said that in the current power battery market, "integration and division" are showing at the same time, on the one hand, there are more car companies and power battery companies closely bundled, but on the other hand, there are many seemingly unbreakable "allies" are changing. This is mainly due to the emergence of two different market trends at the same time: the improvement of consumer demand level, the requirements for technical level and cost control are also gradually increasing, resulting in more vehicle enterprises can only be bundled with battery enterprises, in order to reduce R & D and production costs; Due to the limited capacity of power batteries, these capacity can not meet the rapid growth of power battery enterprises and competition will effectively reduce the purchase cost of batteries.

Zhongguancun new battery technology innovation alliance secretary general Yu Qingjiao told the first financial reporter, with 2021 domestic new energy car market subsidies will be eliminated, the power battery industry is facing a further shuffle, around the competition for vehicle customers will be more intense.