GM Venture Backs $1 Billion Spring Hill Shift to High-Manganese Prismatic Cells
General Motors joint venture Ultium Cells will upgrade its Spring Hill facility to commercially manufacture prismatic lithium manganese-rich battery cells starting in 2028.
- 33% over LFP
- $1B through 2030
- 500 jobs
- 2028 start
What Happened
Ultium Cells has detailed an industrial conversion plan for its Tennessee operations. The battery alliance uniting GM and partner LG plans to alter existing production tooling to yield rectangular lithium-manganese-rich units, aiming for volume fabrication by 2028 after engineering work begins late this year.
The upgrade is expected to establish the site as an automotive-industry pioneer for volume output of high-manganese rectangular battery units. Work on the plant will introduce roughly 500 shop-floor jobs alongside the existing 1,200 workers, fitting into an overarching $1 billion financial framework extending through 2030 that covers energy-storage output and factory modernizations.
From a chemical standpoint, LMR technology yields an estimated 33 percent increase in energy density relative to lithium iron phosphate formulations while matching comparable unit expense. Higher manganese utilization allows the automaker to curb dependency on costlier nickel and cobalt supplies, creating cell options targeted at heavy electric haulers and full-size passenger vehicles.
33%increase
higher energy density relative to standard LFP cells
$1 billiondollars
cumulative capital expenditure planned through 2030
500positions
manufacturing workforce expansion in Spring Hill
Why this matters
The manufacturing shift establishes a commercial middle ground between budget lithium iron phosphate packs and expensive high-nickel chemistries. Transitioning to manganese-heavy formulations lowers battery cell raw material expenses while maintaining the energy storage required for full-size electric trucks and sport utility vehicles.
Terms in This Story
- LMR
- Lithium manganese-rich, a cathode chemistry combining elevated manganese content with reduced nickel and cobalt to achieve high energy storage at modest material cost.
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