LG-GM joint venture to build second U.S. battery plant in Tennessee

By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- A joint venture between South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution Ltd. and U.S. automaker General Motors Corp. will build its second battery factory in Tennessee to step up production, industry sources said Thursday.

Ultium Cells, a joint venture between LG and GM, has picked a site in Tennessee for their second electric vehicle (EV) battery plant, which will be similar in scope to its $2.3 billion Ohio plant, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The two companies will jointly announce the investment plan on Friday, they noted.

LG Energy Solution, wholly owned by LG Chem Ltd., said last month it plans to invest more than 5 trillion won (US$4.5 billion) to expand U.S. battery production capacity by 2025, including a scheme to build at least two new plants.

LG Energy Solution operates a lithium-ion battery factory in Michigan and is building a new factory in Ohio through its joint venture with GM, which will be completed in 2022.

LG vowed to step up its EV battery business in the U.S after recently reaching an agreement on a two-year long trade secret suit over the EV battery technology. Its smaller home rival SK Innovation Co. agreed to pay 2 trillion won to LG.

ejkim@yna.co.kr
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