GM to produce lower-cost battery cells at Tennessee plant
DETROIT (Reuters) -General Motors is planning to produce lower-cost battery cells at its joint-venture plant with South Korea's LG Energy Solution in Tennessee.
The Detroit automaker is rolling out production of lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, a technology that is gaining popularity at other automakers in the U.S. including at cross-town rival Ford Motor. GM will begin converting battery cell lines at its Spring Hill, Tennessee facility later this year, and commercial production is expected to begin by late 2027, the company said Monday.
GM and other automakers have pulled back some of their goals around electric vehicle production as demand for the models has been weaker-than-anticipated. Still, auto companies are investing billions in future battery technology and EV production facilities, with the expectation that shoppers will eventually make the switch from traditional gasoline vehicles.
GM currently produces nickel-cobalt-manganese-aluminum cells at the factory, and will continue to do so at a plant in Ohio. The cells produced in Tennessee are used for EVs made at the neighboring assembly plant, including the Cadillac Lyriq. The factory employs about 1,300 people, GM said. Workers at the Ultium Cells joint-venture factory earlier this year approved their first contract with the United Auto Workers union.
Ford is planning to produce LFP batteries at a factory in Michigan using technology from Chinese battery giant CATL. The plant, announced in 2023, has drawn scrutiny from some lawmakers for its ties to the Chinese company. It is expected to begin production in 2026.
Both automakers are also working on production of lithium manganese-rich (LMR) chemistries, which are intended to provide drivers with more mileage on their EVs before needing to charge. Concerns around battery range, as well as high vehicle prices, are some of the top barriers keeping customers from buying electric vehicles, auto executives have said.
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Bentley Johnson of the League of Conservation Voters called the Dingells' district a "fascinating case study" as the home of UAW and heavy-industry workers who were longtime Democrats who have been trending more toward President Donald Trump or independent affiliation. "In a lot of ways, it's a microcosm of the country in terms of political polarization. But what is interesting is that we see water and outdoor recreation as classic examples of issues that are top priorities for people across the entire political spectrum," Johnson said. Johnson said the Dingells recognize that and that as "problem-solvers," there is "no situation too complex or politically sticky that they won't throw themselves into to try and find a solution." Local colleges also praised the Dingells' tenure, with spokespeople for both the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University crediting their support for the institutions. "Congresswoman Debbie Dingell has been an incredible supporter of Michigan Medicine, and we are fortunate to have someone of her caliber represent our students, faculty, staff and patients," said Mary Masson, a spokesperson for UMich-Health. "As a lifelong resident of Ann Arbor and former local elected official, I've had the honor of working over many years with Debbie Dingell and, before her, John Dingell," added Eastern Michigan administrator Leigh Greden. "The district has changed a lot over the years… What hasn't changed between John and Debbie is their omnipresence in the community." The lack of change, however, has been something critics of term limits and "dynastic" political families have in turn called out. Writer Andrew Sullivan previously dove into the "Dingell Dynasty" and cited several critiques of having a family in office that long. He cited journalist Philip Klein's take that it is an indictment of incumbency. "[Dingell Jr.] was re-elected over and over again due to the way congressional districts are drawn up and because incumbents have such a huge money and influence advantage that it creates a barrier to entry for any potential challengers," he said according to Sullivan. "The United States was created by a revolution against a monarchy, and yet Americans have had an unhealthy obsession with political dynasties," added Klein, who noted that at the time, the nation was flirting with dynastic presidencies of Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush. "And seriously, does anybody believe that Caroline Kennedy is the most qualified person in the country to serve as ambassador to Japan?" he wrote. Outside The Beltway writer Doug Mataconis said following Dingell's primary win to succeed her husband, "as a general rule, there is something unhealthy about both political dynasties and long-term incumbency, and the Dingell case provides ample examples of both." 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