Chinese Battery Makers Capture 73% of Global EV Market as Korean Share Falls to 12.6%
The global electric vehicle battery market continues to post double-digit growth, yet South Korean battery manufacturers are losing ground. With Chinese firms now commanding more than 70% of the global market, the combined share of South Korea’s battery makers has fallen to 12.6%, widening the gap b
As of September 2026, Chinese battery manufacturers have secured a dominant 73% share of the global electric vehicle battery market, while South Korean companies have slipped to a 12.6% share, a 47.4 percentage point gap. This widening divide comes as total battery usage in electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid electric vehicles worldwide rose 19.7% year-over-year to 994.5 GWh.
Chinese firms, including CATL, commanded 389.2 GWh, a 25% year-on-year increase, while South Korea's LG Energy Solution, SK On, and Samsung SDI together used 81.9 GWh. The performance disparity was evident: CATL saw a 24.9% jump in battery usage, while BYD's usage grew 7.4% to 150.9 GWh. Korea's battery industry is pivoting towards energy storage systems and diversifying its customer base due to sluggish EV demand, particularly in North America where a 24.3% decline cut total usage in half.
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