General Motors announced its decision to commence electric vehicle (EV) battery pack assembly near its BrightDrop commercial van plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, during the second quarter of 2024. The move comes in response to the recent battery shortage that led to a temporary halt in production of BrightDrop’s Zevo electric vans at the CAMI Assembly facility.
The 400,000-square-foot Ingersoll facility will be responsible for manufacturing battery packs intended for CAMI Assembly. Additionally, GM has revealed plans to expand pack assembly at its other North American plants. The company is actively working to install more battery module capacity at its various EV production facilities across the continent.
Presently, Ultium battery cells are being manufactured at a joint-venture plant situated in Lordstown, Ohio, with further plants scheduled to open between 2024 and 2025. These Ultium cells are then assembled into modules, which are later combined into larger packs and integrated into EVs at assembly plants located in Michigan and Tennessee.
However, production of some of GM’s prominent EV models, including the Hummer EV, Cadillac Lyriq SUV, and BrightDrop vans, faced challenges this year due to ongoing issues at the Lordstown battery plant. GM’s Chief Executive, Mary Barra, attributed the hurdles to delivery issues faced by the automation equipment supplier.
Barra reassured analysts that the situation is expected to be resolved by the end of the year. In the interim, GM has been compensating by manually assembling battery modules on special assembly lines. Last week, North American President Rory Harvey confirmed that the Hummer and Lyriq models were proceeding down the production line, albeit in limited quantities.
A Reuters analysis in May had noted the slower-than-anticipated ramp-up of GM battery plants in Ohio, Tennessee, and Michigan. This delay could potentially limit the automaker’s annual EV production to fewer than 600,000 units by the mid-decade, despite GM’s initial aim to increase capacity to 1 million by 2025.
In conclusion, General Motors’ expansion of battery pack assembly in North America represents a strategic move to address battery shortages and enhance EV production capabilities. As the company continues to tackle challenges, it remains committed to achieving its production targets for the future.
