General Motors and Samsung SDI have now announced details of their planned battery cell factory. The factory is to be built in the US state of Indiana.
The companies had already announced their plans in April. At that time, however, the location and the number of future jobs were still unknown. Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb has now announced that the manufacturing plant will be built in New Carlisle in his state and will create 1,700 manufacturing jobs.
GM and Samsung SDI are investing three billion US dollars in the new plant, which is expected to be operational in 2026 and have a total capacity of more than 30 gigawatt-hours per year. According to the companies, both prismatic and cylindrical cells with a high nickel content will roll off the production line there. Groundbreaking for the joint factory is expected to take place next year.
“GM has long been one of America’s most iconic brands and deeply rooted in Indiana. For decades, Hoosier communities like Marion, Bedford and Fort Wayne have been part of the production of countless firsts for family vehicles. And, now today, I couldn’t be more excited to again see GM alongside one of Indiana’s newest world-class companies, Samsung SDI, take this giant leap and make this $3 billion commitment that will transform the automotive industry aided by our proud Hoosier workforce,” said Governor Holcomb.
“This joint venture and the 1,700 people there will help supply cells for millions of all-electric vehicles for customers across North America,” said GM CEO Mary Barra. “The strong support of local and state leaders in Indiana and the combined resources and expertise of GM and Samsung SDI will help us move faster than we could on our own.”
Back in March, it was speculated that Samsung SDI would supply General Motors with cylindrical cells for electric cars in the future. Incidentally, Michigan was speculated to be the location at the time.
In January 2023 it was also leaked that General Motors would not pursue the plan with its partner LG Energy Solution for a fourth joint US battery cell plant planned in Indiana and could build the plant there with another partner instead. This has now come to fruition with the announcement of the Indiana factory together with Samsung SDI.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation also wants to provide incentives to help GM and Samsung SDI in their venture. St. Joseph County, Indiana Michigan Power and Northern Indiana Public Service Company also plan to offer further incentives, according to the press release.
Keyword: GM & Samsung SDI battery cell factory to be built in Indiana