What battery company does GM use?
GM's primary EV battery partner is LG Energy Solution (LGES), via Ultium Cells LLC, a joint venture with General Motors. This arrangement powers GM's Ultium battery platform for its current and planned electric vehicles.
How the Ultium Cells partnership shapes GM'sEV lineup
Ultium Cells LLC was created to design, manufacture, and supply the large-format battery cells that underpin GM's Ultium platform. This collaboration gives GM greater control over supply, pricing, and scaling as the automaker expands its electric-vehicle portfolio—covering models such as Lyriq (Cadillac), Silverado EV, Blazer EV, and Equinox EV. The plants operate across the United States, enabling closer proximity to GM's assembly lines and the broader North American market.
What Ultium cells are and why they matter
The Ultium family consists of large-format pouch cells and modular battery packs designed for flexible configurations. The chemistry emphasizes high nickel content with reduced cobalt, aimed at delivering energy density and cost efficiency suitable for a broad range of GM EVs. The design supports scalable pack architectures, allowing GM to tailor power and range across different models without overhauling the underlying hardware.
Plans to diversify battery supply
GM has indicated efforts to broaden its supplier base to secure additional capacity and reduce reliance on a single source. In parallel with Ultium Cells, the automaker has explored partnerships with other battery makers to supplement supply for future models and regional markets. This diversification is part of GM's broader strategy to meet rising demand for EVs while improving resilience against disruptions in the global battery market.
Implications for GM's electric-vehicle strategy
Relying on LG Energy Solution through Ultium Cells gives GM a vertical-integration edge on battery supply and pacing, enabling faster ramp-ups for new models and potential cost advantages. At the same time, the push to diversify aims to safeguard GM's production plans as the EV market expands, addressing potential bottlenecks in cell capacity and regional coverage. The battery strategy remains central to GM's goal of delivering a wide array of affordable, long-range electric vehicles in the coming years.
Summary
GM's battery operations center on LG Energy Solution's cells produced through the Ultium Cells joint venture. This partnership underpins GM's Ultium-powered vehicles today, while the company continues to pursue additional suppliers to scale capacity and reduce risk as its EV lineup grows.
