Ultium Cells invests $2.3B to upgrade battery manufacturing facility in Tennessee
Ultium Cells, a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution, has announced plans to upgrade its battery cell manufacturing facility in Spring Hill, Tennessee. The company, which produces lithium-ion battery cells for electric vehicles, is investing $2.3 billion into the project and currently employs approximately 1,300 people.
The upgrade will convert existing battery cell lines at the Spring Hill facility to manufacture lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells, with commercial production expected to begin by late 2027. The company aims to scale production of lower-cost LFP technologies to complement its high-nickel and future lithium manganese-rich offerings. The project will support expanded battery chemistry capabilities at the facility, increasing affordability and consumer choice in the EV market. The upgraded facility will also benefit from GM’s flexible EV platform, designed to integrate multiple battery chemistries and form factors.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, Kee Eun, President and CEO, Ultium Cells, said, “We are grateful for the continued partnership and support we've received from the State of Tennessee as we continue to advance our lead in EV battery cell manufacturing. This investment expands our capabilities beyond a single battery cell chemistry, allowing us to produce new chemistries alongside our existing cells. Expanding our product portfolio ensures Ultium Cells will remain at the forefront of battery cell innovation and sustain our commitment to be a stable, long-term employer for the communities we serve.”
TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter, added, “Ultium Cells’ additional investment and commitment to innovating and enhancing its Spring Hill operations is a testament to the state’s longstanding, cohesive partnerships, which started with General Motors, and grew to include LG Energy Solution in 2021, and we stand ready to continue supporting these companies and their joint venture for years to come.”
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About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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