Ultium to invest additional $1B in Spring Hill plant

Ultium Cells announced Tuesday a $1 billion investment in its Spring Hill auto manufacturing facility, expected to be the world’s first to mass produce prismatic lithium manganese-rich battery cells.

According to a press release from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, the plant modifications will begin by year’s end and are expected to be completed in 2028. The release does not note any incentives the state might be providing Ultium or the number of jobs to be created.

Announced in 2021, Ultium Cells is a joint venture involving South Korea-based LG Energy Solution and General Motors. At the time, Ultium Cells pledged to create 1,300 jobs and make an investment of more than $2.3 billion in the Spring Hill facility. In 2022, the two companies announced an expansion, creating another 400 jobs and investing an additional $275 million.

The technology to be deployed offers an energy density that is 33 percent greater than that of lithium iron phosphate — today’s leading affordable battery chemistry — but at a comparable cost.

Tuesday’s announcement builds on a partnership to develop prismatic battery cell technology and related chemistries, bolstering GM innovations such as the small-block V8 engine, OnStar connected vehicle services and hands-free super cruise.

“This marks Ultium Cells’ second major investment in Spring Hill and reflects the company’s continued growth as a diversified battery cell manufacturer,” Injae Pahk, Ultium Cells president, said in the release.

“By evolving production to meet changing market demands, Ultium Cells is reinforcing its long-term position as a key employer and technology leader in the U.S. battery cell sector.”

The announcement comes about one year after Detroit-based GM said in late October 2025 it planned to temporarily lay off 700 employees at the Ultium Cells battery plant amidst then-sluggishness in the electric vehicle market.

This story originally appeared in our sister publication, The Nashville Post.