The proposed EV battery cell manufacturing plant, which will be jointly operated by GM and Samsung SDI, is expected to begin mass production in 2026 and have an annual production capacity of more than 30GWh
GM, Samsung SDI to create a JV for EV battery cells manufacturing plant with $3bn investment. (Credit: (Joenomias) Menno de Jong from Pixabay)
General Motors (GM) and Samsung SDI have revealed their plans to invest over $3bn to create a joint venture (JV) to manufacture battery cells for electric vehicles (EVs) in the US.
The proposed US EV battery cell manufacturing plant is expected to begin mass production in 2026.
With an annual production capacity of over 30 gigawatt hours (GWh), the battery cell plant at its full production is anticipated to bring GM’s total US battery cell capacity to nearly 160GWh.
By constructing a second battery production plant in the US and gaining GM as an additional customer, Samsung SDI aims to further bolster its penetration into the American market through the proposed JV plan.
Samsung SDI president and CEO Yoon-ho Choi said: “It is a great pleasure to take the very first step to create a long-term industry-leading partnership with GM in the US EV market.
“We will do our best to provide the products featuring the highest levels of safety and quality produced with our unrivalled technologies to help GM strengthen its leadership in the EV market.”
GM and Samsung SDI plan to jointly operate the battery manufacturing facility.
The EV battery cell plant is expected to have production lines to manufacture nickel-rich prismatic and cylindrical cells which will only be supplied for GM’s upcoming EVs.
Both companies did not announce further details regarding the new plant, including its location or estimated employment.
However, the JV establishment is expected to generate thousands of jobs in construction and operations, said the companies.
GM chair and CEO Mary Barra said: “GM’s supply chain strategy for EVs is focused on scalability, resiliency, sustainability and cost-competitiveness. Our new relationship with Samsung SDI will help us achieve all these objectives.
“The cells we will build together will help us scale our EV capacity in North America well beyond 1 million units annually.”
In January last year, GM announced an investment of more than $7bn in four manufacturing sites in Michigan, US with an aim to considerably scale its battery cell and electric truck manufacturing capacity.