Spring Hill battery cell manufacturer to invest $275M more, add 400 jobs

Melissa Brown, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read

A Maury County factory will add an additional 400 jobs in an expansion poised to supply General Motors’ Spring Hill assembly plant with batteries for its electric vehicle production.

The $275 million investment at Ultium Cells will increase battery production by more than 40 percent, according to data released by the state. The General Motors Spring Hill plant is set to produce its first electric vehicle, the Cadillac LYRIQ, with the Ultium batteries.

The Ultium factory, a joint venture between GM and South Korea's LG Energy Solutions, was first announced in April 2021 as a $2.3 billion investment. Production is expected to begin at the facility at the end of 2023 and employ around 1,700 workers in Maury County.

US Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh speaks at the Ultium Cells plant, in Spring Hill, Tenn., Tuesday, July 12, 2022. The plant is currently under construction but will produce battery cells to power General Motors electric vehicles.
US Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh speaks at the Ultium Cells plant, in Spring Hill, Tenn., Tuesday, July 12, 2022. The plant is currently under construction but will produce battery cells to power General Motors electric vehicles.

"We now are a state that is the center, in many ways, of the future of the automotive industry," Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said Friday at an event announcing the expansion.

Lee joined Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter and leadership from Ultium Cells LLC, LG Energy Solution and General Motors.

“Ultium Cells will play a critical role in making GM’s commitment to an all-electric future a reality," Tim Herrick, General Motors vice president of its electric vehicle division, said. "By expanding battery cell output at Ultium Spring Hill, this investment will help GM offer customers the broadest EV portfolio of any automaker and further solidifies our path toward U.S. EV leadership.”

The Ultium announcement closely follows another major automotive business announcement. In late November, Tennessee and LG Chem announced plans to develop a cathode materials plant for electric vehicle batteries in Montgomery County, which Lee said will bring around 1,000 jobs to the area with a $3.2 billion investment.

More:General Motors announces electric vehicle battery factory in Spring Hill

GM's Spring Hill vehicle plant opened in 1990.

Reach Melissa Brown at mabrown@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Spring Hill electric vehicle battery plant to add 400 more jobs