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EcoPro (Korean: 에코프로) is a battery materials company headquartered in Cheongju, South Korea. It was established in October 1998.[1]

History

In 2015, Sony signed a supply contract for EcoPro’s cathode materials. Murata Manufacturing continued the relationship when it purchased Sony’s battery division in 2017.[2][3]

In January 2022, a worker died in a fire at EcoPro BM’s Cheongju, South Korea facility.[4] Lee Dong-chae, founder and Chairman of EcoPro Group, resigned as CEO in March after insider trading allegations and the factory fire death.[5]

EcoPro EM, a joint venture between Samsung SDI and EcoPro BM, completed a cathode factory in Pohang, South Korea in October 2022.[6][7]

In August 2023, Ford announced its partnership with SK On and EcoPro BM to build a battery materials facility in Bécancour, Quebec, Canada for its electric vehicles.[8] The facility’s construction has been halted repeatedly for design changes.[9]

The former Chairman Lee was “named an executive adviser on the board” after he was granted a presidential pardon in August 2024 for his prison sentence.[10]

In November 2025, EcoPro completed its cathode materials factory in Debrecen, Hungary.[11][12]

References

  1. ^ “History”. EcoPro. Archived from the original on 2026-03-13. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
  2. ^ Byun, Hye-jin (2023-08-31). “EcoPro touts 10-year battery materials partnership with Sony”. THE INVESTOR. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
  3. ^ Kim, Jae-heun (2023-08-30). “EcoPro maintains 10-year partnership with Sony, Murata Manufacturing – The Korea Times”. www.koreatimes.co.kr. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
  4. ^ 정주원 (2022-01-21). “(2nd LD) One dead, 3 injured in fire at battery materials factory | Yonhap News Agency”. Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on 2023-11-15. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
  5. ^ Park, Jae-hyuk (2022-03-09). “Scandal-ridden EcoPro founder steps down from management – The Korea Times”. www.koreatimes.co.kr. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
  6. ^ Baek, Byung-yeul (2022-10-23). “Samsung SDI seeks to lead battery biz with new cathode plant – The Korea Times”. www.koreatimes.co.kr. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
  7. ^ Son, Ji-hyoung (2022-10-21). “EcoPro-Samsung SDI JV builds world’s largest cathode active material plant”. The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
  8. ^ Scherer, Steve (August 17, 2023). “Ford, partners pick Canada for $900 mln battery materials plant”. Reuters.
  9. ^ Moon, Joon-hyun (2024-08-19). “Ford halts Quebec battery plant project with SK, EcoPro”. The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
  10. ^ Byun, Hye-jin (2024-09-10). “EcoPro founder returns to work, tasked with surviving EV chasm”. The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
  11. ^ Nam, Hyun-woo (2025-11-30). “EcoPro to expedite European market entry with Hungarian plant – The Korea Times”. www.koreatimes.co.kr. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
  12. ^ Kan, Hyeong-woo (2025-11-30). “EcoPro boosts global footprint with new Hungary plant”. The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2026-05-14.