Dec. 9, 2019—General Motors will work with LG Chem, to open a mass-production battery cell plant in the Lordstown-area of Northeast Ohio in the coming years, according to a press release.
The company says the investment could be up to $2.3 billion through the new, equally-owned joint venture company. It estimated 1,100 jobs to be associated with the effort.
"It is great news for Ohio that GM and LG Chem are going to build a new electric battery facility here," said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine at a news conference. "Ohio is a major supplier state for the automotive industry, and the announcement that Ohio will be the location to manufacture next-generation electric batteries will mean more than 1,100 new jobs for Ohioans."
In November 2018, GM announced a restructuring that resulted in the closure of their Lordstown, Ohio factory. Since then, the DeWine-Husted Administration, together with JobsOhio, has pressed General Motors to make a renewed commitment to the state.
GM has made clear that this technology will be a cornerstone for their business model moving forward, the release said. The company previously announced they will develop 20 electric models to sell worldwide by 2023.
Image: GM Brownstown Battery Assembly Plant in Brownstown Township, Mich. (Photo by Jeffrey Sauger for General Motors)