GM, LG to Upgrade Tennessee Plant for Lower-Cost LMR EV Battery Cells

General Motors and battery partner LG Energy will upgrade their Tennessee joint-venture plant to produce lower-cost lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic battery cells for future GM electric vehicles, the companies said on September 29, 2026. The Ultium Cells plant will begin the upgrade later this year, with construction expected to be completed in 2028. The companies did not disclose when cell production will begin. GM has previously said it aimed to start commercial LMR cell production at a U.S. facility in 2028. LMR cells are expected to deliver 33% higher energy density than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells, another lower-cost chemistry many automakers have adopted. The expansion is projected to create 500 new jobs. The Tennessee plant currently makes LFP cells for energy storage systems, and GM's battery chief has said the automaker may abandon LFP plans to focus on LMR instead.