LG Energy Solution secured a favorable ruling from the Munich District Court, which found that lithium-ion prismatic battery cells produced by China’s Sunwoda Group infringe on LG’s patent covering an “electrode assembly structure.” The decision specifically related to prismatic cells used in the Dacia Spring electric vehicle.
LG’s patented technology involves coated separators to create an integrated electrode assembly, reinforcing the durability and cohesion of stacked electrode layers while enhancing safety and electrical performance. According to patent management firm Tulip Innovation, which represents LG Energy Solution and Panasonic, this technology is widely adopted across the prismatic battery sector.
As a result of the ruling, Sunwoda faces an immediate ban on selling the infringing cells in Germany unless it appeals. Without an appeal, the company would also be required to recall existing products and pay damages to LG Energy Solution through Tulip. Industry observers suggest that an appeal is unlikely to overturn the verdict absent new evidence contradicting LG’s claims.
This ruling marks LG Energy Solution’s third successful action against Sunwoda in Germany. In May, the Korean battery maker won two injunctions related to separator SRS coating patents, leading to the first sales bans of Chinese batteries in the German EV market. An anonymous industry source noted that Korean manufacturers often file patent suits in jurisdictions that enforce intellectual property rights more consistently than China, and that this decision reinforces the originality of LG’s technology while setting a precedent for future cases.
“As it is almost impossible for Korean battery manufacturers to win a patent lawsuit in China, they tend to bring the case to countries where they sell their products,” said a source familiar with the matter on condition of anonymity.
“While Europe is known for delivering fair rulings on patent infringement compared to China, LG’s victory is meaningful as it not only proves the originality of their technology but also sets a precedent, which will significantly favor LG in similar future cases.”
LG Energy Solution emphasized its commitment to combating “patent free riding” and fostering a fair competitive environment by supporting the establishment of a global battery patent licensing market. The company’s aggressive enforcement follows multiple breaches of its technologies across small IT device batteries and medium- to large-format EV cells. Last year, LG Chem, LG Energy Solution’s parent company, filed a patent infringement suit in South Korea against Ronbay Technology for alleged unauthorized use of high-nickel cathode material enhancements.
Sunwoda, founded in 1997 and ranked 10th globally by market share according to SNE Research, supplies batteries to automakers including Geely Auto, Renault Group, Nissan, and Dongfeng Motor.
Source: The Korea Herald
