NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — General Motors announced it will build a second U.S. electric vehicle battery plant in Spring Hill.
HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW:
- $2.3 billion investment
- Plant will create 1,300 new jobs
- Maury County will be home to second Ultium Cells LLC battery cell manufacturing plant in U.S.
- Construction will start immediately, expected to open in 2023
- Gov. Lee calls it the "largest single investment of economic activity in the state's history.”
GM said its joint venture with LG Energy Solution, dubbed Ultium Cells LLC, will invest more than $2.3 billion to build its second battery cell manufacturing plant in the U.S. The project will create 1,300 new manufacturing jobs in Maury County.
The Detroit automaker made the announcement Friday morning in Nashville with CEO Mary Barra, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and senior leaders from LG Energy Solutions.
GM officials said construction on the 2.8-million-square-foot, "state-of-the-art" plant would begin immediately. It's scheduled to open in late 2023.
Once completed, the plant will supply battery cells to GM's Spring Hill assembly plant.
.@GovBillLee says he’s proud of the $2.3 billion investment by @GM, making it the “largest single investment of economic activity in state history.”@NC5 pic.twitter.com/qvriXLHs3j
— Levi Ismail (@LeviAIsmail) April 16, 2021
Gov. Lee called it the "largest single investment of economic activity in the state's history.”
In October, GM announced it would invest $2 billion in its Spring Hill plant to begin the transition to become the company’s third electric vehicle plant -- and the first outside of the state of Michigan.
That's more than $4 billion on week where companies like Oracle say they too want to commit billions of their own. We asked Gov. Lee if he thinks Tennessee is ready for all the growth we expect to see in the coming years.
"Absolutely we can accommodate them. We have a strong workforce, we have a lot of folks in this state who can provide just what these companies need. We're grateful for today's announcement, but we're actively pursuing others," Lee said.
GM said the new Cadillac LYRIQ will be the first electric vehicle produced at its Spring Hill plant. The company said it will also continue to make the Cadillac XT6 and XT5 there.
According to a release from the Department of Economic and Community Development, the state produces more than 16,000 electric vehicles each year, which makes Tennessee number one in the Southeast for electric vehicle manufacturing.
