GM to Mass-Produce LMR Battery Cells in Tennessee — SkimNews
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- Ultium Cells, GM's joint venture with LG Energy Solution, will mass-produce prismatic lithium manganese rich (LMR) battery cells at its Spring Hill, Tennessee manufacturing facility — the first plant in the world to do so, the company said Tuesday.
- LMR battery cells deliver 33% higher energy density than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells at a comparable cost, according to Ultium Cells.
- Spring Hill plant upgrades will begin later this year and are expected to be completed by 2028, adding 500 jobs and bringing the facility's workforce to 1,700.
- GM will deploy the new LMR batteries in upcoming electric trucks and full-size SUVs, targeting over 400 miles of range per charge.
- Kurt Kelty, GM's vice president of battery and sustainability, said LMR positions GM to "leapfrog today's more affordable chemistries and deliver lower costs with better performance," while high-nickel batteries will still deliver the highest range — giving GM a three-chemistry, two-form-factor portfolio.
- GM's first vehicle built on LMR cells is expected to launch in 2028, more than a year after GM and LG first revealed the chemistry publicly.
Why it matters: LMR gives GM a middle-tier battery option that costs like LFP but packs 33% more energy density — a meaningful lever for making electric trucks and full-size SUVs affordable without sacrificing the 400+ mile range buyers expect. The Spring Hill upgrade locks in 500 new jobs and a 2028 production timeline, while GM's high-nickel batteries remain reserved for its longest-range vehicles like the Silverado EV.
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