Ultium Cells
Ultium Cells is a 50/50 joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution that manufactures large-format pouch battery cells (NCMA, LFP, and emerging LMR chemistries) at facilities in Warren, Ohio and Spring Hill, Tennessee, primarily supplying GM's North American EV production and increasingly the energy storage market.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersWarren, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Ultium Cells does
Ultium Cells LLC is a 50/50 joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution, announced December 5, 2019, that mass-produces large-format, pouch-style battery cells to support GM's North American electric vehicle production. The company operates two principal manufacturing facilities in Warren, Ohio (2.8 million sq ft, production began August 2022) and Spring Hill, Tennessee (2.8 million sq ft, production began February 2024), with combined current nameplate capacity of approximately 85 GWh and a stated long-term target of 130+ GWh across a planned three-site footprint. Its core technology is NCMA (Nickel Cobalt Manganese Aluminum) chemistry with 70% less cobalt than traditional formulations, delivering energy options from 50 to 200 kWh across packs supporting up to 450+ miles of range and 350 kW fast charging.
The company's product portfolio spans three chemistries: NCMA pouch cells for current GM Ultium Platform EVs (Cadillac Lyriq, GMC Hummer EV, Chevrolet Silverado EV), LFP cells for Energy Storage Systems produced at Spring Hill and supplied to LG Energy Solution Vertech for grid-scale and data center deployments beginning Q2 2026, and LMR (Lithium Manganese-Rich) prismatic cells in development for future GM electric trucks and full-size SUVs with commercial production targeted by 2028. Ultium generates revenue primarily through B2B hardware sales of battery cells under confidential long-term supply agreements to General Motors, with a secondary emerging channel to LGES Vertech for stationary storage. Capitalization includes more than $2.5 billion in cumulative JV investments from GM and LGES, a $2.5 billion U.S. Department of Energy loan (December 2022), and additional expansions of $275M at Spring Hill and $70M for LFP retooling.
Operations are organized around two production sites with a staff support office in Troy, Michigan, and a UAW-represented hourly workforce (the first unionized U.S. battery manufacturing workforce, ratified June 2024). The company is currently navigating a significant demand-side reset, including the January 2026 idling of the Warren, Ohio plant and 1,334 announced layoffs tied to weaker-than-expected EV demand, while simultaneously executing a strategic pivot at Spring Hill toward LFP cells for the energy storage market.
Ultium Cells firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ultium Cells
- Legal name
- Ultium Cells LLC
- Website
- https://ultiumcell.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Ultium Cells is a 50/50 joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution that manufactures large-format pouch battery cells (NCMA, LFP, and emerging LMR chemistries) at facilities in Warren, Ohio and Spring Hill, Tennessee, primarily supplying GM's North American EV production and increasingly the energy storage market.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ultium Cells industry classification
Industry- Product category
- EV Battery Cell Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Battery Manufacturing (33591)
- SIC
- Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Battery Cell Manufacturing (EV) (IMACACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cell Manufacturing (Cylindrical, Prismatic, Pouch) (EUAFABAG), Battery Cells (Li-ion, LFP, Sodium-ion, Lead-acid, NiMH) (IMAGAHAA)
Keywords
Where Ultium Cells is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Warren
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Ultium Cells business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- EV Battery Cell Sales: Ultium Cells generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of battery cells to General Motors for use in their electric vehicles. As a joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solution, the company supplies battery cell capacity to support GM's North American electric vehicle assembly operations. Revenue is generated through long-term supply agreements with its parent company.
- Energy Storage System Battery Cells: Following the 2026 strategic pivot, Ultium Cells now produces LFP battery cells for energy storage systems. These cells are supplied to LG Energy Solution Vertech for packaging into ESS enclosures used in grid-scale and data center applications across North America. This diversifies revenue beyond the captive GM supply arrangement.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Ultium Cells product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ultium Cells is a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution that mass-produces large-format battery cells for electric vehicles and energy storage systems. The company's core products include NCMA pouch-style cells with 70% less cobalt for automotive applications, LFP cells for grid-scale and data center energy storage, and developing LMR prismatic cells for future EV applications. Manufacturing occurs at 2.8 million square foot facilities in Warren, Ohio and Spring Hill, Tennessee.
Product overview
Ultium Cells is a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution that operates as a battery cell manufacturer with two primary production facilities in Warren, Ohio and Spring Hill, Tennessee. The company's core product is its Ultium battery cells, which include NCMA (Nickel Cobalt Manganese Aluminum) pouch-style cells for electric vehicles, LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) cells for Energy Storage Systems, and developing LMR (Lithium Manganese-Rich) prismatic cells for future EV applications. The company produces millions of battery cells annually to power GM's Ultium Platform electric vehicles including the Cadillac Lyriq, GMC Hummer EV, and other models, while also diversifying into stationary energy storage applications to meet growing grid-scale and data center power demand.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- NCMA Battery Cells Large-format, pouch-style battery cells utilizing advanced Nickel Cobalt Manganese Aluminum (NCMA) chemistry that deliver more range at less cost with 70% less cobalt than traditional formulations. These high-performance cells are used to power GM electric vehicles across North America with energy options from 50 to 200 kWh enabling up to 450+ miles of range.
- LFP Battery Cells for Energy Storage Lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells specifically designed for Energy Storage Systems (ESS). These cells are produced at the Spring Hill, Tennessee facility and supplied to LG Energy Solution Vertech for packaging into large ESS enclosures supporting grid-scale and data center projects throughout North America.
- LMR Prismatic Battery Cells Lithium manganese-rich prismatic battery cells delivering 33% higher energy density compared to the best-performing LFP cells at comparable cost. The chemistry targets over 400 miles of range in electric trucks and full-size SUVs, targeting commercial production by 2028.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100 million battery cells produced at Warren facility by December 2024
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Ultium Cells
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Ultium Cells technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Ultium Cells partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- LG Energy Solution VertechcoreUltium Cells supplies LFP battery cells to LG Energy Solution Vertech, LG's U.S. energy storage division. LGES Vertech packages the cells into large ESS enclosures for grid-scale and data center projects throughout North America. This partnership enables Ultium Cells to diversify into the growing energy storage market.
- United Auto Workers (UAW)coreUAW represents approximately 1,600 hourly employees at Ultium Cells Ohio. The first local supplementary bargaining agreement was ratified in June 2024 with 98% approval, establishing Ultium Cells Ohio as the first unionized battery manufacturing facility in US history. Contract includes significant wage increases averaging 25%, enhanced benefits, and operational flexibility provisions.
- General MotorsflagshipUltium Cells is a 50/50 joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution, announced December 5, 2019. GM contributes automotive manufacturing expertise and EV platform requirements while LG Energy Solution provides battery technology and manufacturing processes. The JV was established to build battery cell manufacturing capacity in the US to support GM's transition to an all-electric future.
- LG Energy SolutionflagshipLG Energy Solution contributes 30+ years of battery technology experience, extensive patent portfolio (69,600+ patents globally), and manufacturing process expertise to the joint venture. The company licenses technology to Ultium Cells and provides ongoing technical support for battery cell development and production optimization.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ultium Cells competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- LG Energy Solution: JV parent and core technology licensor. Operates its own gigafactories globally with similar pouch/NMC cell chemistries and supplies multiple automotive OEMs, competing with the cells Ultium produces from shared IP.
- Samsung SDI: Major Korean battery cell manufacturer with a Stellantis JV (StarPlus Energy) building U.S. capacity. Closely comparable pouch/prismatic cell technology and similar OEM-anchored JV structure as Ultium Cells.
- SK On: Korean battery maker operating BlueOval City JV with Ford in Tennessee and Kentucky plants. Mirrors Ultium's automotive-OEM joint venture model with comparable pouch cell formats and U.S. gigafactory footprint.
- Panasonic Energy: Primary battery cell supplier to Tesla with the De Soto, Kansas gigafactory. Operates at comparable scale in U.S. large-format pouch/NCA cells and competes head-to-head for OEM battery supply contracts.
- Envision AESC: Operates U.S. battery plants (Tennessee, Kentucky) supplying Nissan and BMW. Closely matches Ultium's automotive-OEM cell manufacturing focus and is building U.S. gigafactory capacity at comparable scale.
Broad incumbents
- CATL: Global #1 battery cell manufacturer, dominant in LFP and NMC chemistries. While not U.S.-domiciled, it sets the cost benchmark and increasingly targets U.S. customers via licensing/JV (e.g., Ford technology license), defining the competitive ceiling for Ultium Cells.
- BYD: Vertically integrated EV manufacturer with captive battery cell production (LFP/NMC). Operates a U.S. bus/battery facility in California and is a direct competitor on cost-per-kWh for LFP cells.
Emerging players
- Gotion High-Tech: Chinese battery maker building a $2B gigafactory in Big Rapids, Michigan for LFP cells targeting U.S. EV and ESS markets. Comparable emerging domestic LFP/NMC capacity competing in the same OEM customer pipeline.
- FREYR Battery: Norway/U.S. LFP battery cell developer with planned Georgia gigafactory. Overlaps directly with Ultium's LFP-for-ESS pivot and competes for the same energy storage and emerging EV customers.
- Microvast: U.S.-based battery maker operating a gigafactory in Clarksville, Tennessee with NMC/LFP cell production. Directly comparable geography and chemistry mix to Ultium, targeting commercial vehicle and ESS customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ultium Cells social profiles
Digital presenceUltium Cells financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ultium Cells leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Ultium Cells funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ultium Cells M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ultium Cells
What does Ultium Cells do?
Ultium Cells is a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution that mass-produces large-format battery cells for electric vehicles and energy storage systems. The company's core products include NCMA pouch-style cells with 70% less cobalt for automotive applications, LFP cells for grid-scale and data center energy storage, and developing LMR prismatic cells for future EV applications. Manufacturing occurs at 2.8 million square foot facilities in Warren, Ohio and Spring Hill, Tennessee.
Is Ultium Cells a public or private company?
Ultium Cells is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Ultium Cells founded?
Ultium Cells was founded in 2019. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Ultium Cells based?
Ultium Cells is headquartered in Warren, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ultium Cells make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. EV Battery Cell Sales are the primary driver. The others are energy Storage System Battery Cells.
Who are Ultium Cells's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, SK On, Panasonic Energy and Envision AESC. Broad incumbents are CATL and BYD. Emerging players are Gotion High-Tech, FREYR Battery and Microvast.
Does Ultium Cells have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ultium Cells.
What industry is Ultium Cells in?
Ultium Cells's product category is EV Battery Cell Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACACAB, Battery Cell Manufacturing (EV), with a secondary code of EUAFABAG, Cell Manufacturing (Cylindrical, Prismatic, Pouch). Its NAICS code is 33591 and its SIC code is 3620.