GM will build LMR battery cells in Tennessee, aiming for long range at LFP cost

General Motors has picked the plant that will build its next battery chemistry. Ultium Cells, GM's joint venture with LG Energy Solution, said Sept. 29 that it will produce lithium manganese-rich, or LMR, prismatic battery cells at its factory in Spring Hill, Tennessee, just outside Nashville. GM says that is expected to make Ultium Cells the first manufacturer in the world to commercially produce the technology.

Construction and facility upgrades are scheduled to begin later this year and finish in 2028. GM projects the expansion will add 500 jobs to a plant that currently employs 1,200 people.

Why LMR matters

The pitch is range without the price penalty. GM says LMR cells are designed to deliver 33% more energy density than lithium iron phosphate, or LFP, the low-cost chemistry common in affordable EVs and stationary storage, at a comparable cost. Higher energy density can mean more range from a pack of the same size, or the same range from less material.

GM is keeping its existing high-nickel cells for its longest-range models. "High-nickel batteries will continue to give customers the highest range in our portfolio, while adding LMR positions us to leapfrog today's more affordable chemistries and deliver lower costs with better performance," GM said in its announcement. Ultium Cells will be able to build cells in multiple chemistries and formats, which GM says lets it match the battery to the vehicle.

Electrek reported that GM plans to use LMR cells in future electric pickups and full-size SUVs, targeting more than 400 miles of range, with the first LMR vehicle expected in 2028. For comparison, the high-nickel Chevrolet Silverado EV offers an estimated range of up to 478 miles and starts at $55,895, according to Electrek.

Ford is starting with LFP

Ford is further along with lower-cost cells. In June, its BlueOval Battery Park Michigan in Marshall assembled its first full LFP prismatic cells, taking them from slurry through coating, formation, aging and final inspection. Ford owns and operates the plant and licenses the cell technology from China's CATL. Ford said it is on track to ship EV batteries this year, which it says will make it the first automaker to deliver U.S.-built LFP batteries for mainstream consumer vehicles. The cells will power Ford's affordable midsize electric pickup, the first model on its Universal EV platform. The plant had more than 500 employees in June and planned to reach 800 by year-end on the way to 1,700.

The business backdrop

Both companies are rebuilding EV plans after costly resets. GM recorded $7.9 billion in charges related to its EV strategic realignment in 2025 and another $2.3 billion of net charges in the second quarter of 2026, mostly for negotiations with suppliers and joint-venture partners and losses on supply contracts, according to its quarterly report. Ford expects its Model e unit to lose about $4 billion this year, including roughly $1 billion of added investment in the Universal EV platform and its Ford Energy storage business.

Cheaper, denser chemistry is central to both recoveries. With the federal EV tax credit gone since September 2025, lower battery costs are one of the main levers automakers have to bring EV prices down. GM said adding LMR will help it "scale efficiently, reach more customers, and support our long-term EV strategy and profitability journey."

What it means for buyers

Nothing changes in showrooms this year. The Spring Hill retooling runs into 2028, and Ford's LFP-powered pickup is due in 2027. Over time, the shift should give shoppers a clearer choice between maximum-range, high-nickel packs and lower-cost packs sized for everyday driving.