LG Chem to construct $3 billion Tennessee cathode plant for GM Ultium EV batteries

SEOUL — South Korea’s LG Chem Ltd stated on Tuesday it should make investments greater than $3 billion to construct a battery cathode manufacturing unit in Tennessee, because it ramps up plans to satisfy rising demand for U.S. electrical car parts.

It is one of many first main EV-related investments introduced by a South Korean agency in the US since a brand new U.S. legislation was handed in August that places automakers and battery suppliers relying closely on China for sourcing at a price drawback.

Mass manufacturing is ready to begin exterior of Clarksville within the second half of 2025 and the plant will create greater than 850 jobs, LG Chem stated in an announcement. The plant is slated to have an annual manufacturing capability of 120,000 tons of cathode supplies by 2027, sufficient to energy about 1.2 million electrical automobiles, it added.

Its shares climbed 1.9% on the information, outperforming a 0.3% decline for the broader market.

LG Chem added that it is usually pursuing cooperation with mining companies and recycling firms to higher assist its clients in order that necessities of the brand new legislation, the Inflation Discount Act, might be met.

LG Chem is predicted to produce cathode supplies to Ultium Cells, a battery three way partnership between Basic Motors and LG Chem’s subsidiary LG Power Resolution Ltd (LGES).

LGES, which provides batteries to Tesla Inc, Ford Motor Co and Hyundai Motor Co amongst others, final month raised its 2022 income outlook to 25 trillion received ($18.4 billion) from 22 trillion, citing new initiatives from automakers.

LG Chem’s new plant will make cathodes for batteries with a nickel, cobalt, manganese and aluminum (NCMA) chemistry. The NCMA battery, which is about 90% nickel, permits producers to scale back their reliance on costly cobalt, and cut back their publicity to refining and processing in China.

China at the moment has 75% of the world’s cobalt refining capability and 50% of the lithium processing capability, in response to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence.

GM has stated it should use NCMA battery cathodes from LG Chem for a spread of EVs utilizing Ultium-branded batteries.

The Inflation Discount Act will, amongst different measures, require from subsequent yr that at the least 40% of the financial worth of crucial minerals for batteries be from the US or an American free-trade associate as a way to qualify for U.S. tax credit. That share will rise to 80% in 2027.

Automakers resembling Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp have been hit arduous by the brand new legislation, which instantly ended credit for about 70% of the 72 automobile fashions that have been beforehand eligible for EV subsidies.

At this month’s G20 summit, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol requested U.S. President Joe Biden to forestall discriminatory measures in opposition to South Korean firms, his workplace stated.

It added Biden had replied that the implementation of the legislation ought to account for the contribution of South Korean funding within the U.S. economic system.