Ultium Cells Invests $1B to Bring Affordable LMR Batteries to GM's Future EVs

Ultium Cells, the battery manufacturing joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution, is putting $1 billion toward a new cell chemistry that could finally make electric trucks more affordable. The company says it is preparing to become the first manufacturer anywhere to build lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) cells at mass scale.

The investment signals a shift in strategy for GM’s battery arm, which has until now leaned heavily on higher-cost chemistries. LMR cells are seen as a promising route to cutting costs because manganese is far cheaper and more abundant than the nickel and cobalt used in many current packs.

GM has flagged electric trucks as a key target for the new cells, though the company has not disclosed a production timeline. If the technology delivers on its cost promises, it could help close the price gap between electric pickups and their gasoline counterparts.

For now, the announcement is a bet on scale: Ultium Cells is positioning itself as a first mover in a chemistry that rivals are also racing to commercialize.