Ultium Cells LLC, the US-based battery manufacturing joint venture between US automaker General Motors (GM) and South Korea’s LG Energy Solution (LGES), announced that its Spring Hill plant in Tennessee has begun production of LGES’ JF2 lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for energy storage systems (ESS).

The plant began producing EV batteries in 2024, mainly for GM’s nearby assembly plant, which makes the Cadillac Lyriq and Vistiq EVs. Ultium Cells also has a battery plant in Warren, Ohio, while a third plant, in Lansing, Michigan, was taken over by LGES in 2025.

Demand for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the US has fallen sharply after the Trump administration withdrew policy support for zero-emission vehicles last year, including the discontinuation of purchase incentives introduced by the previous Biden administration.

Many US-based automakers, including US, Japanese, and South Korean companies, have written off billions of dollars as they scrambled to revise their production strategies following the US government’s policy reversal last year.

A large number of EV battery plants had already been built in the US in the previous five years, or were in the process of being built, mostly by South Korean battery manufacturers and often in partnership with the country’s vehicle manufacturers. An increasing number of these plants are now finding alternative markets for their batteries, particularly the energy storage systems (ESS) market.

Earlier this week, L-H Battery, a battery-manufacturing joint venture between LGES and Honda, began producing ESS batteries at its plant in Jeffersonville, Ohio, alongside EV batteries.

Ultium Cells confirmed that it completed the conversion of some of the capacity at its Spring Hill plant to LFP ESS battery production in less than five months. The batteries will be supplied via LG Energy Solution Vertech, LGES’ North American ESS systems integration subsidiary.

Ultium Cells’ president, Injae Pahk, said in a statement: “The start of LFP production for ESS at Ultium Cells Spring Hill shows our expanded capabilities. By leveraging LGES’ advanced battery technology and the outstanding dedication of our Tennessee team, we’ve successfully established ESS production capability with speed, flexibility, and a strong commitment to safety, quality, and productivity.”

Chris Desautels, director of Ultium Cells’ Spring Hill plant, added: “Launching LFP production reflects the strength of the partnership between LG Energy Solution and GM and reinforces our confidence in the long-term growth potential of advanced battery manufacturing across the broader Ultium Cells network. Ultium Cells is playing a key role in helping companies deploy ESS in support of the power grid and a variety of strategic technology applications.”