Jaeyong Lee to Meet Mercedes-Benz Chairman... Discussing Semiconductor and Battery Cooperation

Existing Collaboration in Automotive Infotainment and Digital Keys
Expectations for Expansion into Semiconductors, Batteries, and Displays

Jaeyong Lee, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, is scheduled to meet with Ola Kallenius, Chairman of Mercedes-Benz, next week. It is anticipated that their meeting will focus on the automotive electronics and electrical equipment (vehicle components) business.

According to the business community on November 6, Chairman Lee is reportedly coordinating his schedule to meet with Chairman Kallenius, who will be visiting Korea to attend the Mercedes-Benz Conference on November 14. There is speculation that Choi Joosun, President of Samsung SDI, and Lee Cheong, President of Samsung Display, may also join the meeting.

Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Industry insiders predict that the meeting between Chairman Lee and Chairman Kallenius could expand the scope of cooperation between Samsung Electronics and Mercedes-Benz to include semiconductors, batteries, and displays.

Samsung Electronics is currently collaborating with Mercedes-Benz in areas such as in-vehicle infotainment systems and digital keys. Through Harman, Samsung supplies the MBUX platform, a next-generation infotainment system used in the Mercedes-Benz luxury electric vehicle EQS, and also works with Mercedes-Benz on car audio solutions. In addition, Samsung Electronics has introduced the Samsung Wallet digital key, which allows users to unlock and start certain Mercedes-Benz models without a physical key.

In particular, this meeting is expected to focus on cooperation in the fields of semiconductors, batteries, and displays, which have not yet been concretely developed. The Device Solutions division of Samsung Electronics and Samsung SDI currently supply automotive semiconductors and electric vehicle batteries to companies such as BMW and Audi, but there has reportedly been no collaboration with Mercedes-Benz so far.

Samsung Display is said to have entered the negotiation stage for supplying organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels for vehicles, and the meeting between the leaders of both companies is expected to accelerate these discussions.

Meanwhile, Chairman Kallenius is also expected to meet with domestic battery manufacturers such as LG Energy Solution. Last March, Chairman Kallenius strengthened cooperation with Korean companies by holding a private 'Tech Day' and meeting with key LG affiliates, including LG Electronics, LG Energy Solution, and LG Display.