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☆ GM, LG Scrap Plans to Partner on Fourth U.S. Battery Factory
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Mike Colias | River Davis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A U.S. battery-cell factory that had been in the works between General Motors Co. and LG Energy Solution has been shelved indefinitely, people familiar with the matter said, marking a pause in the fast-growing partnership between GM and the Korean battery supplier. Talks in recent months between GM and LG Energy executives ended without an agreement to move forward on what would have been the fourth U.S. battery plant to be developed by the companies through their 50-50 joint venture, Ultium Cells LLC, the people said.

☆ GM, LG Energy drop plan for fourth U.S JV battery plant
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Rebecca CookWASHINGTON, Jan 20 (Reuters) - General Motors Co (GM.N) and LG Energy Solution (373220.KS) do not plan to move forward with a fourth U.S. battery cell manufacturing plant, two sources told Reuters on Friday. "We’ve been very clear that our plan includes investing in a fourth U.S. cell plant, but we’re not going to comment on speculation," GM said in a statement Friday. LG Energy did not immediately comment. GM could still proceed with plans to build a new plant in Indiana with a new partner, the sources said. GM and LG Energy are building a $2.6 billion plant in Michigan, set to open in 2024.

☆ GM, LG end plans for fourth U.S. battery cell plant as automaker seeks new partner
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

DETROIT – General Motors and LG Energy Solution have indefinitely shelved plans to build a fourth battery cell plant in the U.S., as talks between the two sides recently ended without an agreement, a person familiar with the plans confirmed to CNBC. The paper, citing unnamed sources familiar with the plans, said GM is in discussions with at least one other battery supplier to proceed with the fourth U.S. battery-cell factory. GM and LG initially announced the joint-venture for a $2.3 billion plant in Ohio in December 2019, followed by other plants near GM operations in Michigan and Tennessee. A spokeswoman for Ultium referred questions to GM and LG Energy, which did not immediately respond for comment. The relationship between GM and LG Energy is crucial to the automaker's future plans for EVs, including topping Tesla and others to become the U.S. leader in all-electric vehicle sales.

☆ Elon Musk's former right-hand man is taking the next big step in his plan to make EVs cheaper by recycling old batteries
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The EV battery recycling giant just announced a new plant in South Carolina. The plant will help carmakers get the materials they need to make EV batteries. With more and more demand for the materials to make these things, taking advantage of recycling can ease a supply crunch and eventually drive down costs. "The goal is to make the most sustainable battery materials," said Jackson Switzer, Redwood senior director of business development and one of Insider's 100 People Transforming Business. "To make the most sustainable battery materials, we need to get as much recycled nickel, cobalt, and lithium as we can into the front end of the system.

☆ UAW union president optimistic on quick contract with GM-LG battery venture
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - United Auto Workers (UAW) President Ray Curry said Monday he is optimistic the union can quickly reach a contract deal with a General Motors (GM.N), LG Energy Solution (373220.KS) battery cell joint venture factory. The Detroit Three automakers all have battery plants in the works with South Korean partners and Ultium is building two other U.S. battery plants in Tennessee and Michigan. He said it would be "premature" to say how a deal with the union would affect labor costs or business structure. Ultium is building a $2.6 billion plant in Michigan, set to open in 2024. This month, Ultium said it would boost its planned investment in a $2.3 billion Tennessee plant by $275 million.

☆ U.S. finalizes $2.5 billion loan to GM, LG battery joint venture
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Reuters first reported in July the planned loan to Ultium Cells LLC from the government's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) loan program. Last week, workers at the $2.3 billion Ultium plant in Ohio voted to join the UAW, a win for the union, which is seeking to organize the growing EV supply chain. GM and LG Energy are considering an Indiana site for a fourth U.S. battery plant. The Energy Department said the $3 billion would provide an estimated $40 billion in additional loan authority for a total estimated available authority under ATVM of about $55.1 billion before the Ultium loan. The ATVM loan program in July closed on a $102.1 million loan to Syrah Technologies LLC (SYR.AX) for expansion of a facility producing a key component for batteries.

☆ Biden administration announces $2.5 billion loan to help GM and LG make EV batteries
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The US Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office will announce Monday that it is issuing a $2.5 billion loan to help start three lithium battery manufacturing hubs in Ohio, Tennessee and Michigan. The DOE loan programs office will loan the money to Ultium Cells LLC, a joint venture of General Motors and South Korean battery manufacturer LG Energy Solutions making batteries to power electric vehicles. In order to take advantage of a federal EV tax subsidy in the Inflation Reduction Act, electric vehicles and much of their battery components be sourced, processed and assembled in North America. LG Energy Solutions is also set to partner with Japanese automaker Honda on a $3.5 billion joint venture battery factory in southern Ohio. The Warren, Ohio, Ultium facility will be represented by the United Auto Workers, after the plant voted to unionize on Friday.

☆ Workers at GM-LG Battery Plant in Ohio Vote to Unionize
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Nora Eckert | Mike Colias | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Ultium Cells battery plant in Warren, Ohio, is a joint venture of GM and LG Energy Solution. Workers at an Ohio battery plant co-owned by General Motors Co. voted overwhelmingly to be represented by the United Auto Workers, bolstering the union as it seeks to solidify its membership amid the auto industry’s push toward electric vehicles. Employees at the plant voted 710-to-16 in favor of joining the UAW. The Ultium Cells LLC plant, a joint venture between GM and South Korea’s LG Energy Solution Ltd., began operations in late August and employs about 900 people.

☆ UAW wins key vote to represent Ohio EV battery factory
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Workers at the Ultium Cells plant, co-owned by General Motors and Korean giant LG, voted overwhelmingly this week to join the United Auto Workers union. Like Ultium most of those battery plants are joint ventures with battery makers rather than wholly owned by the automakers themselves. That means the workers at those new plants will not be part of the UAW unless they vote to join. So it’s crucial for the UAW to be able to organize these slew of joint venture battery plants popping up nationwide. While GM (GM) is not the sole owner of the plant, its executives welcomed the union in hopes it helps to maintain labor peace with contract talks looming next fall.

☆ GM battery plant workers vote to unionize with UAW, a key win for labor as industry shifts to EVs
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

DETROIT — Workers at a General Motors joint venture battery plant in northeast Ohio overwhelmingly voted in favor of representation with the United Auto Workers, the union said early Friday. The count was 710 votes in support of UAW representation; 16 against; and one was void. "Our entire union welcomes our latest members from Ultium," UAW President Ray Curry said in a release. "As the auto industry transitions to electric vehicles, new workers entering the auto sector at plants like Ultium are thinking about their value and worth. Ultium, in a statement Friday, said it respects "the decision of our Ohio workforce supporting representation by the UAW.

☆ Ohio workers vote to unionize GM, LG battery plant
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Detroit Three automakers all have battery plants in the works with South Korean partners. The UAW petitioned in October to represent about 900 workers at the Ohio plant after a majority of employees signed cards authorizing the union to represent them. Production began in August at the Ohio plant, the first of at least four planned Ultium U.S. battery factories. GM and LG Energy are considering an Indiana site for a fourth U.S. battery plant. Last week, GM Chief Executive Mary Barra expressed support for unionizing the Ohio plant.

☆ GM battery plant workers to vote on union representation in labor test for the EV industry
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

DETROIT – The United Auto Workers union will for the first time this week attempt to organize a major electric vehicle battery plant for a Detroit automaker, potentially setting a precedent for similar multibillion facilities to come. The UAW's push into the battery plants comes amid a large labor movement that has included U.S. corporations like Amazon and Apple to Starbucks to Chipotle . Joint venture battery facilities are viewed as crucial for the UAW to grow and add members, as automakers such as GM transition to electric vehicles, which require less traditional labor and parts than cars with internal combustion engines. The Ultium plant in Ohio, which started production in August, is the first of at least four U.S. battery facilities for the GM-LG joint venture. Ford Motor , Stellantis and other automakers have announced similar plants, which would each have to be organized separately in addition to other Ultium plants.

☆ GM, LG joint venture to invest $275 million in Tennessee battery cell plant
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - General Motors Co (GM.N) and LG Energy Solution Ltd (373220.KS) said Friday they are investing another $275 million in their Tennessee joint venture battery cell plant to increase production by more than 40%. It is one of at least four U.S. joint venture battery plants planned to supply GM electric vehicles as the largest U.S. automaker ramps up production. The first Ultium joint venture plant in Warren, Ohio began production in August. GM and LG Energy are also considering an Indiana site for a fourth U.S. battery plant expected to cost around $2.4 billion. They are also building a $2.6 billion battery cell plant in Lansing, Michigan, set to open in 2024.

☆ GM, LG investing $275 million to expand Tennessee EV battery plant
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

General Motors revealed its all-new modular platform and battery system, Ultium, on March 4, 2020 at its Tech Center campus in Warren, Michigan. General Motors and LG Energy Solution will spend an additional $275 million in their joint venture battery plant in Tennessee to increase production by more than 40%. The Ultium Cells Spring Hill site is expected to join other joint venture battery cell manufacturing sites in Ohio and Michigan. "Ultium Cells will play a critical role in making GM's commitment to an all-electric future a reality," said Tim Herrick, GM's vice president of EV Launch Excellence. "By expanding battery cell output at Ultium Cells 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."

☆ LG Chem to invest over $3 billion to build U.S. battery cathode plant
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Heekyong Yang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SEOUL, Nov 22 (Reuters) - South Korea's LG Chem Ltd (051910.KS) said on Tuesday it will invest more than $3 billion to build a battery cathode factory in Tennessee, as it ramps up plans to meet rising demand for U.S. electric vehicle components. Mass production is set to start in the second half of 2025 and the plant will create more than 850 jobs, LG Chem said in a statement. LG Chem is expected to supply cathode materials to Ultium Cells, a battery joint venture between General Motors (GM.N) and LG Chem's subsidiary LG Energy Solution Ltd (LGES) (373220.KS). GM has said it will use NCMA battery cathodes from LG Chem for a range of EVs using Ultium-branded batteries. At this month's G20 summit, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol asked U.S. President Joe Biden to prevent discriminatory measures against South Korean companies, his office said.

☆ Biden to meet with Ford CEO, UAW Friday on economy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The White House meeting, which will be in-person and virtual, will also include the presidents of the Service Employees International Union and United Food and Commercial Workers union, the official said. Attendees will discuss the economy and meeting participants' perspectives on the economy "and ideas they have to continue bringing inflation down," the official said. The White House has often cited a shortage of semiconductor chips as a key factor in higher prices for cars and trucks and overall inflation. Also attending is White House National Economic Council director Brian Deese and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. In May, Biden, in a trip to South Korea, expressed support for workers seeking to unionize joint venture battery plants.

☆ Ford working to build its own parts for electric vehicles to offset job losses
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

DETROIT – Ford Motor is attempting to build as many of its own parts as possible for its electric vehicles to offset an expected 40% reduction in workers needed to build such cars and trucks, CEO Jim Farley said Tuesday. In addition to making sense for the business, he said retaining the jobs and workforce is another reason Ford wants to build more parts in-house rather than purchasing them from suppliers. Ford is building twin lithium-ion battery plants in central Kentucky through a joint venture with South Korea-based SK Innovation, called BlueOvalSK, as well as a massive 3,600-acre campus in west Tennessee. Farley said the company would be "thrilled" to have union representation at its upcoming battery plants. The comments come as the United Auto Workers union is attempting to organize a joint-venture battery plant between General Motors and LG Energy Solution in Ohio.

☆ UAW seeks election to represent GM battery joint venture workers
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Jonathan ErnstOct 31 (Reuters) - The United Auto Workers on Monday said it was seeking an election to represent workers at a General Motors (GM.N)/LG Energy (373220.KS) battery cell manufacturing joint venture in Ohio after the companies refused to recognize the union. In August, the Warren, Ohio Ultium plant began production, the first of least four planned U.S. battery factories by the joint venture. In May, President Joe Biden, in a trip to South Korea, expressed support for workers seeking to unionize joint venture battery plants. "For every joint venture that manufactures electric vehicle batteries would be made stronger by collective bargaining relationships with American unions," Biden said. GM and LG Energy are considering an Indiana site for a fourth U.S. battery plant expected to cost about $2.5 billion.

☆ UAW Files for Federal Permission to Set Election at Ohio Battery Plant
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Mike Colias | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

General Motors co-owns a battery plant in northeast Ohio where the United Auto Workers is looking to hold an election. The United Auto Workers is seeking federal permission to hold an election at a new battery plant in Ohio co-owned by General Motors Co., claiming the factory’s owner has resisted workers’ efforts to unionize. The UAW said Monday that a majority of the facility’s 900 workers have signed cards requesting that the union represent them at the factory, which is owned by Ultium Cells LLC , a 50-50 joint venture between GM and Korean battery supplier LG Energy Solution . The northeast Ohio facility opened in late August.

read moreRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterLast month, the first General Motors and LG Energy Solution (373220.KS) joint venture Ultium battery plant began production in Lordstown, Ohio. GM previously expressed support for efforts by the UAW to organize Ultium's battery plants, but did not endorse "card check. In May, President Joe Biden, in a trip to South Korea, expressed support for workers seeking to unionize joint venture battery plants. Detroit's Big Three automakers all have battery plants in the works with Korean partners. Last month, GM and LG Energy said they were considering a site in New Carlisle, Indiana, for a fourth U.S. battery plant.

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