According to the latest data from SNE Research, global energy capacity for electric vehicle batteries registered from January to February 2026 reached approximately 134.9 GWh, representing a 4.4 percent year-over-year increase. Despite overall market growth, the combined share of the three leading South Korean manufacturers—LG Energy Solution, SK On and Samsung SDI—dropped by 2.2 percentage points to 15.0 percent. All three companies saw declines in installed battery capacity: LG Energy Solution fell by 2.7 percent to 11.8 GWh, SK On by 12.9 percent to 5.2 GWh and Samsung SDI by 21.9 percent to 3.3 GWh. This downturn has been linked largely to a 29.8 percent plunge in U.S. electric vehicle sales, where these firms hold significant exposure.
| Rank | Battery Group | 2025 Jan–Feb (GWh) | 2026 Jan–Feb (GWh) | Growth Rate | 2025 Market Share | 2026 Market Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CATL | 50.0 | 56.9 | +13.7% | 38.7% | 42.1% |
| 2 | BYD | 20.7 | 18.1 | -12.5% | 16.0% | 13.4% |
| 3 | LG Energy Solution | 12.1 | 11.8 | -2.7% | 9.4% | 8.7% |
| 4 | CALB | 5.1 | 6.3 | +23.6% | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| 5 | Panasonic | 5.2 | 5.3 | +2.7% | 4.0% | 4.0% |
| 6 | Gotion | 4.8 | 5.3 | +8.9% | 3.7% | 3.9% |
| 7 | SK On | 6.0 | 5.2 | -12.9% | 4.6% | 3.8% |
| 8 | SVOLT | 3.0 | 3.8 | +24.9% | 2.3% | 2.8% |
| 9 | EVE | 3.6 | 3.7 | +2.2% | 2.8% | 2.8% |
| 10 | Samsung SDI | 4.3 | 3.3 | -21.9% | 3.3% | 2.5% |
| – | Others | 14.4 | 15.2 | +5.8% | 11.1% | 11.3% |
| – | Total | 129.3 | 134.9 | +4.4% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Samsung SDI’s battery installations were concentrated in models from BMW, Audi and Rivian. As sales slowed across these brands—including reduced demand for BMW’s core electrified lineup and a cannibalization effect between Audi’s new Q6 e-tron and the existing Q8 e-tron—total battery volume declined. SK On saw mixed results: Hyundai Motor Group’s stable IONIQ 5 sales and the introduction of the IONIQ 9 boosted installations, but production halts at Ford’s F-150 Lightning and weakened performances at Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen outweighed those gains. LG Energy Solution benefited from strong demand for Tesla’s Model Y and new Kia models like the EV4, along with rising sales of Renault and Škoda electric models, but lagging orders for Chevrolet, Ford and Volkswagen EVs led to a slight overall decrease.
Panasonic, which remains heavily aligned with Tesla, recorded 5.3 GWh in battery usage, up 2.7 percent. Growth in Model Y output offset declines in Model 3, S and X, and production halts for the latter two are expected to curb demand. The company is therefore prioritizing next-generation 4680 and 2170 cell development and boosting North American manufacturing efficiency.
| Key Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Global EV battery usage, Jan–Feb 2026 | 134.9 GWh |
| Year-on-year growth | +4.4% |
| CATL market share | 42.1% |
| BYD market share | 13.4% |
| K-trio combined share (LGES, SK On, Samsung SDI) | 15.0% |
| K-trio share change | -2.2 percentage points YoY |
China’s CATL retained its leading position with 56.9 GWh—a 13.7 percent rise—driven by uptake from domestic OEMs such as SERES, Li Auto, NIO and ZEEKR, while also expanding to Toyota, Kia and Škoda. BYD posted 18.1 GWh, down 12.5 percent, as a fall in its own-brand sales in China outweighed growing orders from Xiaomi, Fangchengbao and select commercial and overseas clients.
These figures suggest the global EV battery market is entering a structural transition, marked by decelerating demand in China and North America, offset by growth in Europe, other parts of Asia and emerging regions. In this evolving landscape, manufacturers’ ability to diversify supply chains, broaden customer portfolios and tailor product mixes will be critical to long-term competitiveness.
Source: SNE Research
