Production has officially begun at the new Ultium Cells plant in Warren, Ohio, GM announced this week, with the automaker inviting Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to tour the facility and demonstrate its innovative cell manufacturing processes.
Roughly 800 employees are currently working at the Ultium Cells plant. This is the first cell production facility in America operated by the company, which is a joint venture partnership between GM and Korean supplier LG Energy Solution. GM inaugurated its first global Ultium Cells plant in Shanghai, China last year.
Governor DeWine toured the Warren Ultium plant on Wednesday, with Ultium Cells President Kee Eun and Vice President of Operations Tom Gallagher providing an interactive demonstration of its training simulators, as well as a walking tour of the cell manufacturing process where team members showcased the production of battery cells.
“During the visit, Ultium Cells highlighted its innovative cell manufacturing process driven by a growing team of more than 800,” Ultium said in a prepared statement. “The company has started cell production and continues to remain focused on training as it prepares to ramp up. At full production, the facility will create 1,300 new high-tech jobs.”
With Ultium cell production now underway at the Ohio plant, GM will be able to ramp up production of the GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Lyriq. This will also help it scale production of the BrightDrop Zevo 600 and Zevo 400 vans once production of those nameplates begins at the automaker’s CAMI plant in Canada later this year.
In addition to the Ohio plant, Ultium is also constructing new cell production sites in Michigan and Tennesee, while a fourth U.S. facility may be constructed in Indiana, as well. These plants will produce proprietary Ultium pouch cells, which offer superior packaging solutions to the cylindrical battery cells used by Tesla and many other manufacturers. GM has also said it will offer battery packs in vehicles ranging in capacity from 50 kWh to 200 kWh.
Subscribe to GM Authority as we bring you the latest Ultium news, GM electric vehicle news and ongoing GM news coverage.
Extra comfort for rear-seated passengers.
Filings made in 24 countries, so far.
The sweepstakes closes on December 22nd and the drawing will take place on December 28th.
At a time of year when luxury car ATP usually rises.
Sales decreased 5.6 percent to 16,670 units during the first ten months of 2024.
Specifically critical minerals supply chain development.
View Comments
There won’t be affordable recycling . If the new chemistries Re created , no need for the old material . Currently there are different chemistry mixtures for batteries from different manufacturers . How do you separate the base elements .
Consider this , the recycling industry still has trouble sorting different types of glass and plastics . Most ends up in landfill .
Hope the new technology doesn't require purchasing Cobalt from Communist China to build these current batteries. It's what I've heard and the media doesn't want us to know. If someone knows about Cobalt, please advise because I just learned of this horrible deal with China.
elpoki:
Congo has the most Cobalt on the planet at 3.5+ million metric tons. Mined in open pit with P&H electric shovels. This is the primary source. Dangerous element. Be sure to wear adequate face mask when working around. Big bucks in Cobalt production now that it is in demand big time like copper for electric cars.
Tesla trying to develop a Cobalt free car battery in collaboration with Panasonic at Giga factory lab in Reno. Tesla currently uses 5% Cobalt in their batteries. As we all know the battery thing is the huge part item and weak link in electric vehicles. Various outfits are setting up vehicle battery recycling operations in Nevada. In Nevada there is an area the size of Rhode Island that has been condemned forever, aka Nevada Test Site, for toxic materials and atomic radiation. The Russians dump their toxic radioactive materials on arctic sea bottoms. So much for the Green movement.