GM bets $900M on new LMR battery to slash EV costs by 10%
Original: GM’s electric future depends on a new battery — and this building
Why This Matters
Represents GM's strategic shift to compete in lower-cost EV market segment
GM opens 500,000-sq-ft Battery Cell Development Center at Warren Tech Center as part of $900M investment in lithium-manganese-rich battery technology. New LMR chemistry promises to cut EV costs by $6,000 while maintaining 400+ mile range.
General Motors unveiled its new Battery Cell Development Center in Warren, Michigan, housing the company's development of LMR (lithium-manganese-rich) battery chemistry. VP Kurt Kelty, formerly of Tesla, leads the effort to replace GM's current Ultium platform based on expensive NMC chemistry. The new LMR technology offers energy density comparable to NMC at costs similar to cheaper LFP batteries. GM projects LMR will reduce battery costs by $6,000 per vehicle while preserving 400-mile range in trucks like the Silverado EV. The facility accelerates battery development by one year as GM recovers from a $1.6 billion charge and workforce reductions in 2023.