It was in April 2023 that GM and Samsung SDI first announced a joint battery cell plant in New Carlisle. The partners planned to invest $3.5 billion to develop an initial production capacity of 27 GWh, later expanding to 36 GWh, on a 275-hectare site. The project was expected to create over 1,600 jobs, with production initially scheduled to begin in 2026 before being postponed to 2027.
In other words, the battery cell plant operated by their joint venture, SynergyCells – which will soon be fully owned by Samsung SDI – is not yet operational. Upon completion, Samsung SDI plans to initially use the facility to produce batteries for energy storage systems in order to respond quickly to the rapidly growing US battery storage market.
“While reflecting recent market changes, this acquisition decision is to continue the strategic partnership with GM,” a Samsung SDI spokesperson stated. “We will continue our commitment to an electrified future with the partner, while utilizing the plant to proactively respond to the fast-growing ESS market in the U.S.”
According to a press release from Samsung SDI, the plant could also produce prismatic cells for EVs developed jointly with GM in future. However, this remains unconfirmed. For now, both companies intend to jointly develop prismatic batteries with high energy density and fast-charging capabilities, though regular production is not yet finalised.
