TN: Ultium Cells to Invest $275M to Expand Battery Cell Plant in Spring Hill, Creating 400 Jobs

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter announced Ultium Cells LLC, a joint venture of LG Energy Solution and General Motors, will expand its Spring Hill, Tennessee, battery cell manufacturing operations.

The project represents a $275 million investment by Ultium Cells, which is in addition to the $2.3 billion investment announced in April 2021, and is expected to create 400 additional jobs. Once the facility is fully operational, Ultium Cells is expected to employ a workforce of 1,700 in Maury County.

Ultium Cells will increase battery cell production by more than 40 percent, from 35 gigawatt-hours to 50 GWh. The Tennessee facility will supply battery cells to General Motors’ Spring Hill assembly plant for production of the Cadillac LYRIQ, the first electric vehicle produced at the plant, and other GM Ultium Platform-based electric vehicles. Production at the 2.8-million-square-foot facility will begin in late 2023.

The Tennessee site joins two other Ultium Cells battery cell manufacturing sites in Ohio and Michigan. The Warren, Ohio, facility began battery cell production in August, and the Lansing Delta Township facility in Michigan is under construction and will begin production in late 2024.

Once all three facilities are at full production capacity later this decade, Ultium Cells expects to have more than 130 GWh of battery cell capacity in total. Ultium Cells will provide battery cell capacity to support GM’s North American electric vehicle assembly capacity of more than one million units by mid-decade, while supporting GM’s plans to supply other automotive companies and industries including rail, aerospace, heavy trucking and marine customers.

Tennessee has made significant strides in electric vehicle manufacturing with investments from companies like General Motors and LG Energy Solution. Since 2017, companies have committed to create nearly 12,000 new jobs and invested $16 billion in Tennessee through EV-related projects. Additionally, with more than 180,000 electric vehicles produced in the state since 2013, Tennessee ranks No. 1 in the Southeast for electric vehicle manufacturing.

Tennessee is also quickly becoming a leader in the domestic manufacturing of critical materials used to make lithium-ion batteries, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite.Since 2018, TNECD has announced more than 5,900 new job commitments and roughly $10 billion in capital investment related to EV battery manufacturing or the EV battery supply chain.

“As Tennessee continues to lead the automotive industry, we proudly welcome additional investment and job creation from companies around the globe. I thank Ultium Cells for investing $275 million in Spring Hill and look forward to new opportunities for Tennesseans across Maury County.” – Gov. Bill Lee

“Tennessee is well-positioned to provide automotive manufacturers and suppliers with the ideal geographical location to support their growth. Ultium Cells’ additional $275 million investment will have a lasting impact on the region for years to come. We are grateful to them, along with General Motors and LG Energy Solution, for their continued commitment to Tennessee, which is a vote of confidence to our state’s skilled workforce and business-friendly climate.” – TNECD Commissioner Stuart McWhorter

“This investment will allow us to provide our customer GM more battery cells faster and support GM’s aggressive EV launch plan in the coming years. Ultium Cells is taking the appropriate steps to support GM’s plan for more than one million units of EV capacity in North America by mid-decade. We appreciate the support the state of Tennessee, Maury County and Spring Hill has shown Ultium Cells, and that support is playing an important role in making this expansion investment possible in our Spring Hill facility.” – Tom Gallagher, vice president of operations, Ultium Cells LLC

“Ultium Cells will play a critical role in making GM’s commitment to an all-electric future a reality. By expanding battery cell output at Ultium Spring Hill, this investment will help GM offer customers the broadest EV portfolio of any automaker and further solidifies our path toward U.S. EV leadership.” – Tim Herrick, vice president of EV Launch Excellence, General Motors

 “The increased cell production capacity at Ultium Cells will power more EVs in North America, moving toward a greener future. LG Energy Solution will employ its decades-long experience in battery technology and manufacturing to produce quality products as we demonstrate our reputation as an industry leader delivering unparalleled consumer value.” – Charles Oh Young Hyun, president, LG Energy Solution Michigan

 “Maury County began being a leader in the state of Tennessee for the automotive industry at about the same time I moved to Maury County in 1985. We are once again leading the way into the future by supporting the success of Ultium Cells and EV technology. The announcement today by Ultium Cells that it will significantly increase both its investment and the number of high-quality jobs created, prior to even beginning operations at their new facility, serves as testament to the unique advantages Maury County offers high-tech manufacturers. While being an integral part of Team Maury, an announcement of this scope will provide benefits to the entire region, and we thank Ultium Cells for their investment and confidence in our community.” – Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt

 “TVA and Columbia Power & Water Systems congratulate Ultium Cells, LG Energy Solution and General Motors on the planned expansion of Ultium’s Spring Hill battery cell plant. Helping bring good jobs to the Tennessee Valley is fundamental to TVA’s mission, and this expansion will create additional jobs and investment in the region and support clean energy. We are proud to partner with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, the Maury Alliance and others to celebrate this announcement.” – Jeff Lyash, president and CEO, Tennessee Valley Authority

 “This expansion further solidifies Tennessee’s standing as a global automotive powerhouse. We are grateful to Ultium Cells for their continued investment in Middle Tennessee and their commitment to advancing clean energy technologies for the 21st century. Companies like General Motors and Ultium have proven time and time again that when they invest in Tennessee, their business, our people and our state succeed together.” – House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) 

“This is big news for Spring Hill. We continue to see the job market strengthening in Maury County, and this investment will be a major boost to the local economy. I congratulate Ultium on their success in Spring Hill and appreciate the work of the state and local officials who helped secure these new jobs.” – Sen. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald)

“General Motors and Ultium Cells have been an exceptional community partner and valued employer in Maury County for many years. This significant investment speaks highly of the working relationship we have, the quality of our workforce and our local infrastructure. We congratulate Ultium Cells and its employees for their remarkable success, and I look forward to continuing our partnership for many years to come.” – Rep. Kip Capley (R-Summertown)