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Bosch and Samsung SDI launched SB LiMotive in 2008 to develop and make lithium-ion batteries for automakers. The 50:50 venture began operations on September 1, 2008, but the partners dissolved it in 2012. Bosch kept the battery-systems business, while Samsung SDI continued as a cell supplier.
What was SB LiMotive?
SB LiMotive Co. Ltd. was a joint venture between Bosch and Samsung SDI, intended to develop, manufacture, and sell lithium-ion batteries for automotive applications. It served automakers and vehicle programs, not retail consumers looking for a replacement battery or a Bosch power-tool battery.
The partners combined different parts of the battery business. Samsung SDI brought battery-cell development and production; Bosch focused on turning cells into systems suitable for vehicles, including battery management and integration with the vehicle. The arrangement was meant to connect cell technology with the engineering and quality demands of automotive use.
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| Area | Planned or stated role |
|---|---|
| Ownership | Bosch and Samsung SDI each held 50 percent of SB LiMotive. |
| Cells | Cell development and initial production were planned in South Korea; Samsung SDI later remained a cell supplier to Bosch. |
| Battery systems | Bosch focused on complete battery systems, battery management, and vehicle integration. |
| Geographic footprint | Headquarters were planned for Suwon, South Korea. A Stuttgart subsidiary was planned for sales, marketing, and system engineering. |
When did the Bosch-Samsung battery partnership start and end?
The partnership began operations in 2008 and ended as a joint venture in 2012. Its launch plans, production target, and later restructuring unfolded as follows.
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- A power source for a vehicle's electrical system
- Vehicle Battery
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| September 1, 2008 | SB LiMotive started operations as a 50:50 Bosch–Samsung SDI venture. |
| 2008 launch announcement | The partners said they planned to invest $300 million to $400 million over five years. They targeted series manufacturing of lithium-ion battery systems customized for automotive requirements in 2011, with worldwide marketing. |
| Fall 2012 | Bosch’s annual report records the dissolution of the joint venture and the transfer of its battery-systems business to Bosch. |
| December 13, 2012 | Bosch announced that authorities had approved SB LiMotive’s dissolution and described the successor structure. |
The 2011 manufacturing date was a plan announced at launch, not evidence that production began on schedule. Likewise, the launch announcement’s forecast that more than three percent of the 91 million new passenger cars and light trucks expected worldwide in 2015 would be hybrid or electric vehicles was a period projection, not a current market statistic.
How were the venture’s work and locations divided?
SB LiMotive’s design joined Korean cell development and production with Bosch’s automotive systems engineering and commercial footprint in Germany. The launch report named Youngwoo Park of Samsung SDI for finance, production, sales, and purchasing, and Bosch’s Dr. Joachim Fetzer for engineering and quality.
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- High density negative paste, improves performance and increases battery life
- Enhanced life alloy or Silver Calcium stamped alloy increases cycle life and improves performance
- Calcium lead positive grid, maximizes conductivity and allows for low resistance
- Robust envelope separator with puncture resistant back, allows for increased acid circulation and prevents shorts. Improved acid circulation, helps the battery to remain cool, and extend battery life
- Vent cap design that resists acid leakage
The geographic plan reflected those responsibilities: headquarters and initial cell activity were planned for Suwon, while a Stuttgart subsidiary was planned to handle sales, marketing, and system engineering. These were the announced organizational arrangements; they do not by themselves establish the eventual scale or output of each site.
What replaced SB LiMotive?
After the dissolution, Bosch integrated the former SB LiMotive Germany and Cobasys units into Robert Bosch Battery Systems, a wholly owned Bosch subsidiary. Bosch took over existing battery-system projects and continued to focus on complete systems, battery management, and vehicle integration.
Rank #3
- High density negative paste, improves performance and increases battery life
- Enhanced life alloy or Silver Calcium stamped alloy increases cycle life and improves performance, High density plate oxide provides for maximum power-per-pound and dependable high cycling service
- Calcium Lead positive grid, maximizes conductivity and allows for low resistance
- Robust Envelope Separator with puncture-resistant back, allows for increased acid circulation and prevents shorts. Improved acid circulation, helps the battery to remain cool, and extend battery life
- Vent cap design that resists acid leakage
Samsung SDI did not continue as a co-owner of the systems business. Bosch described it instead as a cell supplier, while noting that Bosch could also use cells from other manufacturers. In other words, the venture ended, but a supplier relationship remained: Bosch retained the systems activities and Samsung SDI could supply cells.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Did Bosch and Samsung still make batteries together?
Not through SB LiMotive after its 2012 dissolution. Bosch continued developing and producing lithium-ion battery systems through Robert Bosch Battery Systems, and Samsung SDI remained a cell supplier. That is a different relationship from jointly owning and operating the original venture; Bosch also retained the option to source cells from other manufacturers.
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- [START-STOP READY]: Bosch S6 High Performance AGM batteries are engineered for start-stop vehicles with brake-energy recuperation, delivering constant optimal power for short trips and stop-and-go traffic
- [LONGER LIFE & DURABILITY]: Advanced AGM design provides up to 2x longer service life and 4x higher deep-cycle resistance than conventional batteries, with excellent vibration resistance and robust internal connections
- [BOSCH RELIABILITY]: Delivers dependable OEM-approved starting power in extreme hot and cold climates, with excellent charge acceptance and consistent performance you can rely on
- [SAFE & MAINTENANCE-FREE]: 100% maintenance-free AGM battery features sealed, spill-proof construction, flushed tops to reduce acid leakage risk, passenger-compartment safe design, plus a 4-year free replacement warranty
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