LG Energy Solution has recently achieved a third consecutive victory in its patent infringement lawsuit against Chinese battery manufacturer Sunwoda in Germany, which may lead to a sales ban on some of Sunwoda’s electric vehicle batteries in the European market.

The focus of the controversy in this case is LG Energy Solution’s patent for an "electrode assembly structure" (the German portion of EP2378595 B1) whose core principle is to create an integrated electrode assembly with coated separators, increasing the cohesion and durability of the stacked electrode layers, dramatically enhancing the safety and electrical performance of electric vehicle batteries. This technology is widely used in prismatic batteries, a high-performance product format that Chinese companies are prioritizing in the electric vehicle and energy storage system markets.

According to Tulip Innovation, a patent management company of LG Energy Solution, the Munich Regional Court in Germany has ruled that Sunwoda’s supply of lithium-ion prismatic batteries for the Dacia Spring electric vehicles infringes on the patent. Dacia is a brand under the French Renault Group, and the Dacia Spring is an entry-level electric vehicle for the European market, its supply chain maybe affected.

On July 17, the Munich Regional Court ruled in favor of LG Energy Solution and issued the following immediate orders:

Sales Injunction: Sunwoda is banned from selling infringing batteries in Germany;

Inventory Destruction: Sunwoda is requested to recall and destroy remaining products;

Information Disclosure: Sunwoda is requested to submit relevant sales and financial data for calculating compensation;

Financial Compensation: Sunwoda is required to compensate LG Energy Solution for its economic losses.

In response, Sunwoda has filed a patent invalidation lawsuit against LG in Germany.

Established in 1997, Sunwoda is a Chinese company specializing in lithium-ion batteries, producing batteries for EVs and ESS. According to SNE Research, Sunwoda ranked 10th globally in electric vehicle battery market share, keeping rapid growth particularly in small lithium-ion batteries and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for electric vehicles. Sunwoda supplies batteries to major automakers such as Geely Auto, Renault Group, Nissan and Dongfeng Motor.

From IP Forefront

August 6th, 2025