Project Overview
Ultium Cells, a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution, is constructing a large-scale battery cell manufacturing facility in Spring Hill, Tennessee. This plant will produce lithium-ion battery cells for GM's Ultium Platform-based electric vehicles, including the Cadillac LYRIQ[1][3].
Key Details
Location: Spring Hill, Tennessee
Size: 2.8 million-square-foot facility[1]
Initial Investment: $2.3 billion (announced April 2021)
Additional Investment: $275 million (announced December 2022)
Total Investment: $2.575 billion[3][4]
Production Capacity: 50 gigawatt-hours (GWh) annually[1][4]
Job Creation: 1,700 new high-tech jobs[1]
Major Milestones
April 2021: Initial project announcement and groundbreaking[3]
June 2022: Installation of the final steel beam of the factory building[4]
December 2022: Announcement of additional $275 million investment to expand production capacity[1]
March 21, 2024: First completed battery cells shipped to General Motors[2]
Current Status
As of April 2, 2024, the Ultium Cells plant in Spring Hill has achieved a significant milestone by successfully shipping its first battery cells to General Motors[2]. The facility is now operational and will continue to ramp up production. Key points about the current status include:
Production has begun, with the first cells shipped to GM's Spring Hill Manufacturing Operation[2].
The plant will produce millions of battery cells annually for GM's Ultium Platform electric vehicles[2].
Shipments to other General Motors plants will increase in volume and frequency as additional production lines are commissioned[2].
Ultium Cells continues to hire as it prepares to launch additional lines and increase capacity[2].
Future Outlook
The Spring Hill facility is part of Ultium Cells' broader strategy to support GM's electric vehicle production goals. When combined with other Ultium Cells plants in Ohio and Michigan, the company expects to have more than 130 GWh of battery cell capacity when all three facilities are at full production capacity later this decade[1]. This capacity will play a crucial role in supporting GM's plan for more than 1 million units of EV capacity in North America by mid-decade[1][4].
Citations:
[1] https://www.ultiumcell.com/newsroom/News/2022/12/02/Ultium-Cells-LLC-Announces-Plans-to-Produce-More-Battery-Cells-Faster
[2] https://www.ultiumcell.com/newsroom/News/2024/04/02/Ultium-Cells-Spring-Hill-Hits-Key-Target-Ships-First-Completed-Battery-Cells-to-General-Motors
[3] https://www.constructiondive.com/news/ultium-ev-battery-plant-construction-tennessee/638396/
[4] https://insideevs.com/news/626235/ultium-cells-factory-tennessee-additional-investment/
[5] https://www.greshamsmith.com/projects/ultium-spring-hill-battery-plant/
[6] https://www.kedglobal.com/batteries/newsView/ked202406040017
[7] https://www.gm.com/stories/ultium-battery-springhill-tn
[8] https://www.energy.gov/lpo/ultium-cells