General Motors Co. has announced an investment of more than $7 billion in four US manufacturing sites, creating 4,000 new jobs and retaining 1,000, and significantly increasing EV battery cell and electric truck manufacturing capacity. This is the single largest investment announcement in GM history.
The investment includes construction of a new Ultium Cells battery cell plant in Michigan and the conversion of GM’s assembly plant in Orion Township, Michigan for production of the Chevrolet Silverado EV and the electric GMC Sierra, GM’s second assembly plant scheduled to build full-size electric pickups.
Ultium Cells, a joint venture of LG Energy Solution and General Motors, will invest $2.6 billion to build its third battery cell manufacturing plant in Lansing, Michigan.
Ultium Cells will build the new plant on land leased from GM.
The new battery cell plant is expected to create 1,700 new jobs when the facility is fully operational.
Site preparation on the approximately 2.8 million-square-foot facility will begin this summer, and the plant is scheduled to open in late 2024.
LG Energy Solution is a global leader delivering advanced lithium-ion batteries for Electric Vehicles (EV), Mobility & IT applications, and Energy Storage Systems (ESS).
Mary Barra, GM Chair and CEO, says: “Today we are taking the next step in our continuous work to establish GM’s EV leadership by making investments in our vertically integrated battery production in the U.S., and our North American EV production capacity.”
She adds: “We are building on the positive consumer response and reservations for our recent EV launches and debuts, including GMC HUMMER EV, Cadillac LYRIQ, Chevrolet Equinox EV and Chevrolet Silverado EV. Our plan creates the broadest EV portfolio of any automaker and further solidifies our path toward U.S. EV leadership by mid-decade.”
Young-Soo Kwon, CEO of LG Energy Solution, comments: “With a shared vision, GM and LG Energy Solution pioneered the EV sector by seizing new opportunities in the market well before anyone else did. Our third battery manufacturing plant, fittingly located in America’s automotive heartland, will serve as a gateway to charge thousands and later millions of EVs in the future.”
“We are extremely excited to have another home here in Lansing, Michigan,” adds Kee Eun, Ultium Cells president. “This facility will lead us into a new era of manufacturing and sustainability as we push toward a zero-emissions future. Our job is to ensure flawless execution through close collaboration with our partners and the State of Michigan. We are very grateful for the Lansing community’s support.”
GM’s proprietary Ultium battery technology is at the heart of the company’s strategy to compete for nearly every EV customer in the marketplace, including affordable transportation, luxury vehicles, work trucks, commercial trucks or high-performance machines.
Keyword: Breaking – GM Announces $7 Billion US Investment to Advance EV Battery & Vehicle Manufacturing