Who is the battery supplier for the Chevy Bolt?
LG Energy Solution (LGES), through General Motors’ Ultium Cells joint venture, supplies the Chevy Bolt’s battery cells for the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV. This arrangement traces back to LG Chem’s original cells and continues under LGES as GM’s primary battery partner for the Bolt family.
Background and Partnership
The Chevy Bolt’s batteries have a lineage that began with LG Chem, the Korean company that developed the original cells used in the early Bolt models. In 2020, LG Chem restructured into LG Energy Solution, and GM formalized a long-term partnership with LGES via the Ultium Cells LLC joint venture to manufacture battery cells in the United States for GM’s electric-vehicle program. The Bolt line has relied on LGES-supplied cells through Ultium Cells since its early years, with the supply continuing as GM expanded its Ultium-based platform across the company’s EV lineup.
Ultium Cells and what it means for the Bolt
Ultium Cells LLC is a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution created to produce battery cells for GM’s Electric Vehicle platform, including the Bolt family. The cells are manufactured in U.S. facilities and supplied to GM’s assembly plants to power Bolt EV and Bolt EUV production and service fleets. This arrangement enables a domestic supply chain for the Bolt’s battery packs and aligns with GM’s broader shift toward Ultium-based architectures.
Key facts about the Bolt’s battery supplier:
- LG Energy Solution (LGES) is the battery cell supplier for the Chevy Bolt, under the Ultium Cells joint venture with GM.
- The Ultium Cells partnership produces cells in the United States for GM’s EV lineup, including the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV.
- LGES’s involvement continues the transition from LG Chem to LG Energy Solution, maintaining continuity in Bolt battery technology.
- GM’s Bolt program has historically faced recall-related safety adjustments tied to LG-based cells, leading to battery module replacements and ongoing safety updates.
In sum, the Bolt’s battery supply is anchored in LG Energy Solution through the Ultium Cells venture, reflecting a long-standing collaboration that began with LG Chem and evolved as GM pushed toward a North American–made, Ultium-based battery strategy.
Current Manufacturing Footprint and Implications for Bolt Production
LG Energy Solution’s cells for GM are produced through Ultium Cells LLC, a joint venture that operates primary cell manufacturing facilities in the United States. These facilities support GM’s U.S.-built EVs, including the Bolt family. This arrangement helps ensure a domestic supply chain critical to GM’s production cadence and service parts availability for Bolt EV and Bolt EUV customers.
What this means for owners and the market:
- Domestic cell production under Ultium Cells supports Bolt production and service in North America.
- LGES remains the central battery supplier for Bolt, with ongoing updates aligned to GM’s Ultium-based platform.
- The collaboration has evolved through safety recalls and continued product improvements to reduce risk and improve performance.
These arrangements reflect GM’s broader strategy to stabilize battery supply for its EV lineup while leveraging LGES’s manufacturing capabilities and the Ultium platform’s modular approach to cell assembly and vehicle integration.
Safety History and Ongoing Quality Improvements
In 2020–2021, the Bolt family faced a notable recall triggered by safety concerns related to certain LG-based battery modules. GM initiated a recall and replacement program, ultimately updating packs with improved modules to mitigate fire risk. While this highlighted challenges in the early supply chain, GM and LGES have continued to work toward safer, more reliable batteries and a steadier supply for Bolt production moving forward.
These safety efforts are part of the broader transition to Ultium-based cells and the goal of delivering safer, higher-performance EV batteries across GM’s lineup, including the Bolt family.
Summary
The Chevy Bolt’s battery supplier is LG Energy Solution (LGES), supplied through GM’s Ultium Cells joint venture. This partnership—rooted in LG Chem’s legacy and strengthened by the Ultium Cells arrangement—provides the cells for Bolt EV and Bolt EUV production in North America. While the program has faced recalls in the past, ongoing collaboration between GM and LGES continues to shape the Bolt’s battery technology and supply chain as part of GM’s broader Ultium-based EV strategy.
