GM among partners planning $2.3B battery plant in Ohio

General Motors (GM) and South Korean company LG Chem announced Thursday that they will begin producing battery cells for electric vehicles at a new plant in Ohio.

The companies plan to invest a total of $2.3 billion in the facility, which is expected to create 1,100 new jobs, according to a GM statement. The plant will be near Lordstown, where GM sold a facility this year. 

“With this investment, Ohio and its highly capable workforce will play a key role in our journey toward a world with zero emissions,” GM Chairwoman and CEO Mary Barra said in the statement.

“Combining our manufacturing expertise with LG Chem’s leading battery-cell technology will help accelerate our pursuit of an all-electric future. We look forward to collaborating with LG Chem on future cell technologies that will continue to improve the value we deliver to our customers,” she added. 

Several of the 1,600 people who had been working at the sold Lordstown GM facility were relocated, but about 400 took buyouts, according to USA Today.

Asked about those workers, Barra told reporters, “This is very significant with 1,100 jobs. We think this is very important for the state of Ohio, and they have a very capable work force and this will help us succeed,” according to the newspaper. 

The facility’s groundbreaking is expected during the middle of next year. 

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) praised the announcement in a statement on Thursday.

“Electric vehicles are the future of our economy and transportation system,” Ryan said. 

“Last month’s announcement that Lordstown Motors will build electric trucks here and today’s announcement that GM-LG Chem will manufacture electric batteries here, underscore the leading role our community will play in the electric vehicle revolution happening today,” he added.