Germany’s BMW Group has signed high-voltage battery cell supply deals with South Korean battery makers Samsung SDI and LG Energy Solution.

BMW said on November 9 the agreements expands its portfolio of existing manufacturers and diversifies the auto giant’s Gen 6 high-voltage battery supply chain.

Financial details and production capacities of the latest deals were not disclosed. BMW said Samsung and LG will supply from their manufacturing plants in Europe and the US respectively from the late 2020s onwards.

BMW said the agreements underline its commitment to relying on local cell production in close geographical proximity to its high-voltage battery and vehicle production facilities.

The auto company says the Gen 6 battery is based on the nickel-manganese-cobalt chemistry used in its Gen 5 battery system. Gen 6 introduces a new round cell format with direct cell-to-pack integration that is said to allow for greater energy density, reduced weight and more efficient use of space.

Nicolai Martin, member of the BMW board of management responsible for the purchasing and supplier network said: “We aim to ensure our products’ global competitiveness and to be successful in different markets. To achieve this, we operate as locally as possible in our value chains, leveraging the potential of our global procurement markets.”

Batteries International reported earlier this year that BMW and Chinese battery major CATL had agreed to strengthen work on pilot projects and collaborate on cross-border data exchange in relation to the EU’s Battery Passport scheme.

CATL and BMW have been working together on areas including battery production and R&D since 2012.