GM, LG Plan Tennessee Plant LFP Battery Mass Production

General Motors and LG Energy Solution are upgrading their Ultium Cells joint venture plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee, to produce low-cost lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, with commercial production expected by late 2027. This shift aims to localize LFP battery supply in the U.S. and support GM's strategy to offer more affordable electric vehicles, including the next-generation Chevy Bolt EV and a trim of the Silverado EV. LFP batteries are favored for their lower cost, improved safety, and use of more abundant raw materials compared to nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries, which GM will continue to use for longer-range models. The $2.3 billion Spring Hill plant, originally producing NMC cells, will start retooling later this year to accommodate LFP production. GM also plans to introduce lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) batteries by 2028, providing a middle ground in cost and range between LFP and NMC chemistries. This battery diversification supports GM's expanding EV portfolio amid a slowing global electric vehicle market and efforts to challenge China's dominance in LFP production.