Samsung SDI Introduces New ESS Products at 'ees Europe 2019' on Aug 7, 2019.©Samsung SDI

Asian Tech Press -- Samsung SDI Co Ltd (6400.KS), a subsidiary of South Korea's Samsung Group, is considering building a battery factory in central Illinois, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin revealed Thursday, Reuters reported.

Durbin said Samsung SDI is discussing building a battery factory in Normal, Illinois. Rivian, an U.S. electric vehicle startup backed by Amazon and Ford, currently has a factory in Normal and said in April that Samsung SDI would supply batteries for its cars.

"We are competing for a major Samsung battery facility. The delegation came in from Korea this week. I spoke to them and others did as well," Durbin said Thursday. "This Samsung facility, we hope, will be located next door to Rivian. That decision has not been made. Having that battery facility will also create thousands of jobs."

It was previously reported that Samsung SDI has been in talks with electric car makers, including Dutch-domiciled Stellantis N.V. and Rivian, to supply batteries made at a potential U.S. plant.

Sources said Samsung is considering investing at least 3 trillion won ($2.62 billion) to make batteries for Stellantis and at least 1 trillion won to make batteries for Rivian.