By Kalea Hall
DETROIT, Sept 29 (Reuters) – General Motors and battery partner LG Energy will upgrade their Tennessee plant to make lower-cost battery cells, the companies said Tuesday.
The Ultium Cells joint-venture plant will be upgraded beginning later this year to manufacture lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic battery cells for future GM electric vehicles. Construction is expected to be completed in 2028, though the companies did not disclose when the cell production will begin.
• GM has previously said its goal was to start commercial production of LMR cells for future EVs at a U.S. facility in 2028.
• The LMR cells are expected to have the potential to deliver 33% higher energy density than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells, another lower-cost battery chemistry that many automakers have gravitated to.
• The expansion at the Tennessee plant is projected to create 500 new jobs.
• The Tennessee plant currently makes LFP battery cells for energy storage systems.
• GM’s battery leader has said the automaker may ditch a plan for LFP cells to focus on LMR instead.
(Reporting by Kalea Hall)
