GM, LG to make lower-cost EV battery cells in Tennessee

General Motors

29/09/2026 17:17

    By Kalea Hall
       DETROIT, Sept 29 (Reuters) - General Motors  GM.N  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)
((kalea.hall@thomsonreuters.com))