GM’s Ultium Cells Plant In Ohio Now Running At 75 Percent Capacity

General Motors stated in its Q3 2023 earnings report that its Ultium Cells plant in Warren, Ohio is now operating at 75 percent capacity as the automaker’s EV battery production efforts continue to ramp up.

Additionally, the Ultium Cells facility is expected to reach full production, running at 100 percent capacity, in November.

GM says the increasing production at the Ultium Cells plant is part of its “continuing EV acceleration,” noting that its rollout of electric vehicles is marked by steady increases in volume. It added that it has made “significant battery module production progress” as fresh assembly lines capable of producing much greater numbers of EV batteries are built, tested, and brought online. The plant expects to have produced 36 million cells this year, and plans to manufacture 100 million cells during the 2024 calendar year – ending battery module constraints by mid-year.

The automaker said that vehicles using the Ultium architecture saw their production approximately double quarter-over-quarter in Q3 compared to Q2 of this year. Data indicated 40 percent of the approximately 32,000 EVs produced in the third quarter use the Ultium platform. The General expects to boost volume even higher in Q4.

Four all-electric vehicle nameplates accounted for approximately two thirds of the Q3 production, including the GMC Hummer EV, the Cadillac Lyriq, the Chevy Blazer EV, and the Chevy Silverado EV.

The plant underwent a brief voluntary production halt back in July to investigate air quality system issues, but was soon operational again. A month later, in August, a chemical spill at the location prompted an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). An ongoing series of at least 17 serious health and safety violations at the facility might cost GM a $270,000 fine.

The Ultium Cells plant in Warren has also become involved in the union negotiations begun by the UAW in Summer 2023. In August, the UAW negotiated an interim pay raise for the facility’s workers, who are currently the only unionized EV battery plant employees in America.

Subsequently, GM has agreed to include all of its Ultium Cells plants in whatever labor contract it manages to hammer out with the union. GM has drawn fire from politicians over the wages at its Warren, Ohio plant, which are half the amount paid previously to workers at its former Lordstown facility.

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