Full Breakdown
LG Energy Solution Launches Lansing Battery Plant, Expanding U.S. ESS and EV Production
8/19/2026, 9:22:35 PM
Core Event: Full-Scale Operations Begin
In August 2026 LG Energy Solution (LGES) held a grand opening for its new 2.8-million-square-foot battery facility in Delta Township, Lansing, Michigan. The ceremony, attended by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, and LGES executives, marked the start of full-scale production of lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cells for energy-storage systems (ESS) and nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cells for electric-vehicle (EV) batteries. LGES announced the launch on August 19.
Background & Context
The Lansing plant began as a joint-venture with General Motors under the Ultium Cells brand. GM sold its 50 % stake to LGES in early 2025, after which the nearly completed factory was reconfigured as a hybrid hub for both ESS and EV batteries. Since 2022 LGES has invested more than $2 billion in the site, bringing its total Michigan investment since 2010 to over $5 billion. The plant completes LGES’s five-hub North American ESS network, which includes facilities in Holland, Michigan; Windsor, Ontario; and joint-venture plants in Ohio and Tennessee.
Data & Statistics
- Annual cell capacity: > 35 GWh (combined LFP and NMC) at full scale.
- Current workforce: ~ 900 employees; projected 1,700 permanent jobs when operating at capacity.
- Statewide impact: LGES expects the Michigan workforce to exceed 3,300 employees by the end of 2026, placing the company among the state’s top 50 employers.
- ESS demand: An order backlog of roughly 140 GWh in North America (end of 2025) and new contracts worth about 6 trillion won with Tesla, among others.
- EV supply: NMC cells are slated for Toyota’s 2027 Highlander EV, assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky.
Official Statements & Responses
Governor Whitmer emphasized Michigan’s role in “good-paying jobs” and the state’s commitment to clean-energy manufacturing. Secretary Burgum called domestic battery production “foundational to America’s energy future.” LGES CEO Kim Dong-myung described the plant as a “defining milestone” that strengthens the U.S. battery ecosystem. President Dae-sik Choi highlighted the long-term partnership with Michigan’s skilled workforce.
On-the-Ground Reports
Plant operations director Anthony O’Donovan noted the “far higher” skill level required for battery manufacturing compared with conventional factories. Bob Lee, president of LGES’s North American branch, said hiring in Lansing has been “good luck” thanks to an abundant local talent pool.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the plant’s EV customer mix. Most reports identify Toyota as the sole EV client, citing the 2027 Highlander supply agreement. Other outlets mention Tesla contracts for Megapack 3 energy-storage systems and suggest Tesla could become an EV battery customer, though LGES has not confirmed a specific vehicle-supply deal. Details of GM’s stake sale and the reallocation of GM-funded SOAR grants to LGES remain variably reported.
What’s Next
LGES plans to add prismatic-cell production in 2027 and to secure > 50 GWh of LFP capacity across its North American sites by the end of 2026. The company also aims to expand its customer base to include additional automakers and data-center operators, leveraging the Lansing hub’s flexible manufacturing lines.
