SEOUL, KOREA - LG Chem will launch production of lithium-ion batteries at its plant in Holland, Michigan. The facility, built in 2010, was supposed to kick off last year but delayed.
The decision to begin operations of the plant came at the exact moment President Park Geun-hye visits the United States. Some in the industry fret that LG Chem may reduce its output in domestic plants at the expense of the Michigan plant.
LG Chem said on May 6 that it would start commercial operations of the electric car battery plant in July and supply the batteries to GM from September. The batteries manufactured in the plant will be mounted on the Chevy Volt. Up until now, LG Chem has supplied lithium-ion batteries produced in its Ochang, North Chungcheong Province, plant to major customers including GM, Renault, and Volvo. The volume of batteries supplied to GM last year was 20,000.
The U.S. government invested US$150 million in the project, which gained national attention following U.S. President Obama's visit to the plant on its opening ceremony in July 2010.
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