LG Chem, the South Korean electric-car battery giant, has sued local rival SK Innovation in the U.S. for allegedly stealing trade secrets by poaching a high number of highly knowledgeable employees.
The lawsuits, filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission and the District Court of Delaware, alleges SK hired 77 employees from LG, some of whom stole trade secrets that helped SK develop a pouch-style battery favored by automakers and the consumer electronics industry, according to a statement from LG.
LG, ranked as the world's second-biggest manufacturer of lithium ion battery cells by Bloomberg, said it's seeking restrictions on SK's operations and further use of LG's trade secrets.
SK, whose customers include Volkswagen Group, hired workers through "a transparent and public process," it said in a statement. The company is adding plants in the U.S., China and Hungary under an expansion plan that is aimed at catapulting it into the industry's top three.
The two companies in 2014 agreed to end a separate legal battle after LG filed a suit against SK over battery technology.
