LG to speed up Tesla Cybertruck 4680 battery design with dedicated team and some reverse engineering

LG may have decided to capitalize on Panasonic's 4680 battery production woes and develop a version of its own faster by establishing a dedicated team of 200 people called internally the New Form Factor Task Force. While the taller and wider form factor may be new for LG, Tesla is already making such batteries for use in the Model Y in the Fremont factory.

The production volume, however, is rather small, and won't be nearly enough for the Cybertruck's 1.8 million preorder reservations, so Tesla is exploring every possible avenue to increase its 4680 battery supply. It recently announced a huge expansion of its Giga Nevada battery factory, as well as new facilities for Giga Texas and Fremont, not to mention that it has now entered the lithium refinery business by building one on the Gulf Coast.

LG is on record saying that it may beat Panasonic to the mass 4680 battery production punch. Given how Panasonic recently postponed its production deadline for as far out as September 2024, LG might be smelling an opportunity to make good on that promise.

Apparently, not only would LG's New Form Factor Task Force team be in charge of spearheading the 4680 battery development, but it will also work on even taller, 4695 cells. That's the same strategy that Samsung is pursuing in order to win EV maker clients, so Tesla may soon find some unexpected help for its 4680 battery supply coming from Korea.

LG is so adamant on developing its own 4680 and 4695 battery cells as soon as possible that it is reportedly "bringing in winding machines from Koem and Zhejiang Hangke to reverse engineer them," claims the industry report.

Get the 48A Tesla Wall Connector with 24" cable on Amazon