Who makes batteries for GM?
LG Energy Solution, through GM's Ultium Cells joint venture, is the primary supplier of GM's electric-vehicle batteries.
GM's battery strategy extends beyond LG. The automaker has pursued additional cell partners such as Samsung SDI to broaden capacity, and sources some cells for its China-market vehicles from CATL, as it expands production across North America and overseas to support its aggressive EV rollout.
Ultium Cells and LG Energy Solution: the core partnership
Here are the core details about the Ultium Cells partnership and LG Energy Solution's role in GM's EV battery supply:
- Formed in 2020 as a 50/50 joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution to develop and manufacture GM's Ultium battery cells.
- Designed to produce modular, multi-chemistry Ultium cells and modules to enable flexible vehicle architectures across GM brands.
- Initial U.S. manufacturing capacity tied to plants in the United States with plans for additional sites to scale output for GM's growing EV lineup.
- Part of GM's strategy to expand domestic production and diversify supply, aligning with U.S. content requirements and broader electrification goals.
GM's Ultium Cells arrangement is a cornerstone of GM's North American EV production, underpinning Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and future EV offerings as capacity grows.
Beyond LGES: Samsung SDI and other regional partners
As GM scales up its EV production, it has pursued additional battery partnerships to supplement LG Energy Solution and to address regional needs:
- Samsung SDI: GM has established a long-term cell supply relationship with Samsung SDI to provide additional battery cells, helping GM expand its output beyond what LG Energy Solution alone can support.
- CATL (China): For its China-market vehicles and joint ventures, GM sources cells from local suppliers such as CATL to meet regional demand and policy requirements.
These collaborations reflect GM's multi-sourcing approach, aimed at reducing risk, improving price competitiveness, and ensuring steady capacity as the company rolls out more Ultium-based models worldwide.
Implications for GM's EV roadmap
GM's multi-partner battery strategy supports a broad and flexible EV lineup, enabling scale across regions while pursuing local content rules. The company continues to expand its U.S. battery manufacturing footprint and to finalize long-term supply arrangements with multiple cell makers to meet ambitious production targets for the next decade.
Summary
GM relies primarily on LG Energy Solution through the Ultium Cells joint venture as its main battery supplier, with Samsung SDI and CATL serving as important secondary partners to diversify capacity and regional coverage. The company continues to grow its domestic battery manufacturing presence to support a wide-ranging EV lineup across its brands.
