Analysts Question the Scope of the Claim
Sunwoda’s role may complicate the case. The company supplies battery cells but does not design or integrate full battery packs, according to a note from Jefferies analysts led by Kelly Zou. The analysts suggested the problem likely originated in the pack system rather than the cells themselves, noting that Sunwoda’s products have performed reliably in other applications.
They also questioned the scale of the damages sought, calling the 2.31 billion yuan claim disproportionate to the roughly 600 million yuan purchase value of the cells at issue.
Sunwoda reported profit of about 1.5 billion yuan last year and 1.1 billion yuan in 2023. It ranked as China’s sixth-largest battery maker by installed capacity in the first 10 months of this year, trailing industry heavyweights such as Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. and BYD Co., according to the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance.
As Geely sues Sunwoda for battery issues, the case is poised to test accountability across China’s EV supply chain — and signal how far quality disputes can travel when safety and scale collide.
