Renault Battery Technology Patent Infringement Allegations

Last year, the Munich District Court in Germany ruled in favor of Tulip Innovation—a company managing patents for LG Energy Solution and Panasonic—for the third time in a patent infringement lawsuit against battery manufacturer Sunwoda. The patents managed by Tulip Innovation involve core technologies that enhance stability by firmly bonding electrodes and separators in automotive batteries. Furthermore, as Sunwoda was a battery supplier for Renault Korea, the court issued an injunction on sales and a recall order for Renault's Dacia Spring models equipped with those batteries. Based in Hungary, Tulip Innovation generates revenue through licensing negotiations and litigation using its extensive battery patent portfolio.

Dacia 
(source: Renault Group Media)

Tulip Innovation Files for Investigation with the Korea Trade Commission

Believing that follow-up measures to the court ruling were insufficient, Tulip Innovation filed a request with the Korea Trade Commission (KTC) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to investigate Sunwoda and Geely Automobile for unfair trade practices. In January, the KTC announced it had launched an investigation. The probe includes Sunwoda, which manufactures and supplies battery cells to Renault Korea, and Geely Automobile, which provides the battery packs. The only domestic model equipped with the contested battery cells and packs is the Grand Koleos. If the KTC rules in favor of Tulip Innovation, it could lead to a situation where sales of the popular Grand Koleos are suspended. Since the technology in question is a fundamental patent for battery manufacturing with a broad scope of rights, industry experts anticipate that the KTC will reach a similar conclusion to last year's German court precedent.

Renault Korea Grand Koleos
(source: renault.co.kr)

Renault Korea’s Popular Model, the ‘Grand Koleos’

The Grand Koleos, a mid-size SUV developed by Renault Korea for the Korean market, was first launched in 2024. It gained significant popularity through word-of-mouth for its stability, fuel efficiency, and quietness. Its value was further recognized when it won the SUV of the Year at the 2025 Korea Car of the Year awards, hosted by the Korea Automobile Journalists Association. Additionally, it is a flagship model that accounted for approximately 78% of Renault Korea's domestic sales last year.

wipsglobal.com
EP2378595 B1, High-power lithium secondary battery

Renault Korea’s Cost-Cutting Strategy: Was It the Right Choice?

The automotive industry suggests that Renault Korea's China-dependent supply chain for cost reduction has become a liability. Specifically, while the Grand Koleos lowered development costs by sharing Geely’s CMA platform from the design stage, it appears the verification process regarding potential intellectual property disputes or infringements was insufficient. Consequently, many predict that Renault will pursue licensing negotiations to avoid the extreme outcome of a sales suspension. Tulip Innovation has consistently maintained that its goal is to establish a reasonable licensing market to ensure fair competition in the battery industry. Even if an agreement is reached, Renault Korea will have to bear royalty costs, which will likely lead to an inevitable increase in vehicle prices. Meanwhile, Renault Korea maintains that all batteries were applied according to official contracts and that no patent infringement occurred, though they are reportedly exploring design-arounds and alternative supply chain options.

tulipinnovation.com

In February of this year, LG Energy Solution filed a patent infringement lawsuit against BYD in the Unified Patent Court (UPC) of Europe. Battery-related litigation is increasingly impacting not just direct competitors but also finished vehicle manufacturers. As battery companies intensify their legal offensives, all eyes are on Renault Korea to see what decision they will make.