Ultium Cells LLC, the battery cell manufacturing joint venture of General Motors and LG Energy Solution, announces an additional $275 million investment in the Ultium Cells Spring Hill plant to expand the facility’s battery cell capacity by over 40% from 35 GWh to 50 GWh when the plant becomes fully operational. Battery cell production at the 2.8 million-square-foot facility will start in late 2023.
The Spring Hill expansion is part of General Motors’ larger push to increase its electric and autonomous vehicle investment, announced in June last year. The strategy includes two new Ultium battery cell manufacturing sites in Ohio and Tennessee, according to Construction Drive.
This investment will allow us to provide our customer GM more battery cells faster and support GM’s aggressive EV launch plan in the coming years. Ultium Cells is taking the appropriate steps to support GM’s plan for more than 1 million units of EV capacity in North America by mid-decade.
Tom Gallagher, Ultium’s vice president of operations
The expansion to open 400 new jobs
With the investment, the expansion is anticipated to open 400 additional jobs, bringing the plant to 1,700 new high-tech jobs once the facility is entirely operational. Hiring is currently in progress as the Ultium Cells Spring Hill team continues to onboard key launch team members for the business. Other career opportunities can be found on the Ultium Cells website.
Other battery cell facilities in the US
LG and GM invested $2.3 billion in the first battery cell facility in Warren, Ohio, which started production in August. In January, the joint venture (JV) invested $2.6 billion in the third facility in Lansing, Michigan, currently under construction and anticipated to open in late 2024.
Ultium Cells will play a critical role in making GM’s commitment to an all-electric future a reality. By expanding battery cell output at Ultium Spring Hill, this investment will help GM offer customers the broadest EV portfolio of any automaker and further solidifies our path toward US EV leadership.
Tim Herrick, GM’s vice president of EV Launch Excellence
Over 130 GWh battery cell capacity when all facilities are fully operational
Ultium Cells expects more than 130 GWh of battery cell capacity once all three facilities are at full production capacity.
In October last year, GM Motors stated it invested $2 billion to switch its Spring Hill plant to produce electric vehicles, which includes the Cadillac LYRIQ. Notably, the facility became GM’s third vehicle manufacturing site to build EVs and the first outside Michigan.
Ultium Cells to support GM’s 1 million EV units
Furthermore, Ultium Cells will offer battery cell capacity to back GM’s North American EV assembly capacity of over 1 million units by mid-decade. At the same time, as per the press release, supporting GM’s plans to provide other automotive companies and other industries, including aerospace, heavy trucking, marine customers, and rail.
With a 30-year history in the battery business, LG has made consistent, large-scale investments to accumulate sufficient credibility, stability, and manufacturing experience to invent its cutting-edge technologies.
Additionally, the company established its first research facility in the US in the early 2000s. In 2010, the company constructed its first US battery plant in Holland, Michigan.
