From Sangju to the World: Declaration as a 'Mass Production City' for Silicon Batteries

Group14 BAM-3 Shipment Ceremony
Driving Both the EV Paradigm Shift and Regional Coexistence

Global next-generation battery company Group14 Technologies held a shipment ceremony for its silicon battery material "SCC 55" for electric vehicles (EVs) at its Sangju factory (BAM-3) in North Gyeongsang Province, marking the official start of mass production.

Kang Youngseok, Mayor of Sangju (fourth from the right), is cutting the tape with Sangju factory officials before the SCC55 shipment ceremony.

This signals that Sangju has moved beyond the research and demonstration stage and has officially entered the global secondary battery supply chain as a practical production base.

The shipment ceremony served as a declaration, both domestically and internationally, that the Sangju factory (BAM-3) has entered the operational phase as a core base for next-generation energy storage technology. The event was attended by officials from North Gyeongsang Province, Sangju City, and the local industrial sector, adding to its significance. It is being evaluated as a symbolic moment that confirms Sangju's industrial status amid the global transition of the EV industry, going beyond a simple product shipment.

SCC 55 is a silicon anode material that increases energy density by up to 50% compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and enables ultra-fast charging in under 10 minutes. It has structurally resolved the issue of volume expansion, which has been the biggest challenge for commercializing silicon batteries, while significantly improving lifespan and safety. Its technological competitiveness has already been proven, with applications in more than 20 million smartphones, EVs, aircraft, and AI devices worldwide.

The Sangju factory (BAM-3) is a production facility wholly owned by Group14 USA, and it has established a workforce and production system to meet the growing demand for EVs. Since September of last year, it has begun shipping products to global customers. Even with only its initial production volume, it can supply more than 100,000 EVs and over 1 million AI-powered devices. The company plans to further enhance its responsiveness to the global EV market through phased expansion in the future.

Another reason this shipment ceremony is drawing attention is that it demonstrated both "technological mass production" and "regional coexistence." Group14 recently hired six local high school graduates, opening a path for local youth to directly participate in the advanced battery industry. This is being recognized as a virtuous cycle model, where attracting global high-tech industries directly translates into local jobs and talent retention.

Kang Youngseok, Mayor of Sangju, stated, "This shipment ceremony marks a turning point, demonstrating that Sangju has emerged as a practical production base for the global secondary battery industry. In particular, the hiring of local high school students by a world-class battery company is the result of Sangju's policy of linking education and industry. Going forward, we will spare no administrative and institutional support to ensure that companies can grow stably and young people can settle in the region."

The group is taking a commemorative photo after the shipment ceremony of SCC55 at the Sangju factory.

A Group14 representative also commented, "The Sangju factory (BAM-3) is a key production base driving the global transition to EV silicon batteries. With this shipment ceremony as a starting point, we will gradually expand our production capacity and establish ourselves as a global company that grows together with local talent."

Currently, the Sangju factory supplies SCC 55 to more than 100 customers, including leading battery and automobile manufacturers.

Industry experts believe that, starting with this shipment ceremony, the Sangju factory will establish itself as a "global secondary battery hub" that simultaneously fosters the advanced energy industry and creates local jobs.