Reportedly, General Motors is engaged in discussions with CATL, a Chinese battery maker, seeking authorization to utilize their lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology. As per the proposal, there’s a possibility for both entities to establish a fresh battery joint venture facility in North America dedicated to manufacturing lithium iron phosphate batteries. The potential location for this venture could be either in the United States or Mexico.
Currently, the precise particulars of the plan remain ambiguous, but it is expected to mirror the collaboration agreement established between Ford and CATL previously. In February last year, Ford disclosed plans for the construction of a battery facility in the vicinity of Marshall City, Michigan, USA, in partnership with CATL. The facility will leverage CATL’s battery technology to furnish power solutions for Ford’s electric vehicles. Concurrently, CATL will assist Ford in refining its battery manufacturing procedures, enhancing production capacity and efficiency, to fulfill Ford’s requisites for superior-quality batteries.. ev charging cable maintenance
As per the agreement with General Motors, CATL will take charge of constructing battery production lines, establishing supply chains, and procuring necessary equipment, while General Motors will oversee the capital expenditures. Both automakers aim to sidestep US federal regulations mandating North American production of electric vehicle batteries to qualify for tax credits.
General Motors has unveiled plans to introduce a Bolt EV, utilizing the Ultium platform next year, marking the debut of a North American electric vehicle built on the Ultium platform and featuring LFP batteries. General Motors’ CFO, Paul Jacobson, emphasized that the adoption of LFP batteries in the new Bolt EV will result in significant cost savings for the company, potentially amounting to billions of dollars.
Chevrolet Bolt; Image source: General Motors
Following software glitches, shipping delays, and various other setbacks that led General Motors to fall short of its electric vehicle sales goals for 2023, the company now sees the end of its production challenges and anticipates a year of robust execution in 2024. General Motors is ramping up production of models utilizing the Ultium platform. With the introduction of multiple new electric vehicles under the Chevrolet brand this year, such as the Blazer EV, Equinox EV, and Silverado EV, General Motors aims to manufacture between 200,000 to 300,000 Ultium electric vehicles this year. This output represents a significant increase, approximately 20 times more than the sales figure of fewer than 14,000 vehicles achieved last year.
