SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's Samsung SDI Co (>> Samsung SDI Co Ltd) said on Monday that it has agreed to buy the battery pack business of Canadian car parts maker Magna International (>> Magna International Inc.), marking a further push by the Samsung Electronics (>> Samsung Electronics Co Ltd) affiliate into a key automotive parts business.

Samsung SDI, which makes rechargeable batteries for German automaker BMW's (>> Bayerische Motoren Werke AG) i3 electric cars, said it will acquire the entire battery pack business from Magna Steyr, an Austria-based operating unit of Magna International. It didn't disclose the value of the deal.

The South Korean firm said the deal will allow it to combine its capability in battery cells and modules with Magna's expertise in battery packs, helping secure customers in Europe, North America and China.

(Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)