Ultium Cells retrofits Tennessee plant for LMR cell production
Ultium Cells plans to convert its battery cell plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee, USA, to produce prismatic LMR cells. The new cell chemistry is set to be used in future General Motors electric vehicles starting in 2028, offering approximately 33 per cent higher energy density than LFP at similar costs.
Spring Hill to manufacture prismatic LMR cells for GM starting in 2028.
Image: General Motors
The joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution is set to begin retrofitting work later this year, with he conversion expected to be completed by 2028. According to Ultium Cells, Spring Hill could thus become the world’s first plant to mass-produce prismatic LMR cells.
LMR stands for lithium-manganese-rich, a chemistry featuring a high manganese content in the cathode. GM and LG Energy Solution view this as a middle ground between cost-effective LFP cells and energy-dense high-nickel chemistries. Ultium Cells claims around 33 per cent higher energy density compared to LFP at similar costs. However, the company does not provide specific energy density figures.
The new cells are intended for use in future GM electric vehicles. As early as 2025, GM and LG Energy Solution had announced their plan to bring prismatic LMR cells to market maturity by 2028. At the time, the primary focus was on their use in electric pickups and large SUVs.
Ultium Cells aligns Spring Hill with new strategy
The retrofitting of Spring Hill aligns with a broader reorganisation of GM’s battery strategy. In June, the company’s battery chief, Kurt Kelty, stated that LMR could play a central role in the portfolio in the future, and LFP might no longer have a place in electric vehicles.
The LFP cells produced in Spring Hill since June 2026 are intended for stationary energy storage systems by LG Energy Solution Vertech and not for electric vehicles. For vehicles, GM is now focusing more on LMR as well as continuing to use high-nickel cells for particularly long-range models.
However, LMR technology is not yet fully mature. Current challenges include durability, capacity loss, and limited fast-charging capability. GM and LG Energy Solution have been working on manganese-rich cell chemistries for years.
In the future, Spring Hill is set to unite multiple cell chemistries and formats under one roof. In addition to LMR and LFP, Ultium Cells will also produce high-nickel cells there; both pouch and prismatic cell formats are to be manufactured. Investments in the programmes and further site measures are expected to total around one billion US dollars by 2030. The retrofitting is also expected to create 500 new jobs. The site currently employs around 1,200 people.
