MUNICH, Germany — German automotive supplier Robert Bosch GmbH and Samsung SDI of Korea plan to launch a joint venture aiming at development, production and distribution of Lithium Ion accumulator systems. With the move, the companies aim at the future strategic markets of automotive drives.

Bosch and Samsung will each hold 50 percent of the joint venture which is scheduled to be launched in September. The company will be headquartered in Korea and bear the name SB LiMotive Co Ltd.

The parent companies plan to supply lithium ion batteries for automotive applications. In automotive electrics and electronics, this type of power storage technology plays a pivotal role in the development for future all-electric and hybrid drive systems.

Bosch plans to contribute the experience it has gathered over the past few years in the context of its "Project House Hybrid" which focused on power electronics, battery management, electrical engines, transmission systems, and DC/DC converters. Samsung brings in extensive experience with developing of lithium ion batteries. The company already produces these batteries for a broad range of non-automotive applications including notebook computers, power tools and mobile handsets.