Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong returned to Seoul on Friday from a business trip to Europe. He likely held meetings with European carmakers on battery cooperation. He arrived at Gimpo International Airport with Samsung SDI CEO Choi Joo-sun.
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong returned to Seoul on Friday, March 13, 2026, from a business trip to Europe, where he likely held meetings with European carmakers to discuss battery cooperation. Upon arriving at Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul with Samsung SDI CEO Choi Joo-sun, Lee responded "Yes" when asked if he had met European automotive clients.
Industry watchers speculate that Lee met representatives from major German carmakers, including Mercedes-Benz, as the Samsung Group seeks to strengthen its battery business through Samsung SDI. "We met with various clients (besides Mercedes-Benz as well)," Choi told reporters at the airport, without providing further details.
Samsung SDI currently lists BMW and Volkswagen among its major clients and is in talks with Mercedes-Benz over potential supplies of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, according to industry sources. Meanwhile, Lee is widely expected to meet Lisa Su, CEO of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Inc., next week in South Korea.
