GM began the steel construction phase today at the all-new Ultium Cells LLC battery cell manufacturing facility in Lordstown. The plant will be operated by GM’s joint venture named Ultium Cells LLC. The battery cells for electric vehicles built here will create more than 1,100 new jobs in Northeast Ohio. The groundbreaking was in March, and concrete footings were been poured at the facility this past May. Construction at Ultium Cells LLC will continue into fall 2020 and likely early winter.

“We are excited about the progress that our team has made, and we look forward to the finished product – a nearly 3 million-square-foot plant,” said Ken Morris, vice president of Autonomous and Electric Vehicle Programs. “Our joint venture with LG Chem will allow us to produce advanced battery cells in Lordstown, with the goal of reducing battery costs to accelerate EV adoption and ultimately benefit customers.”

In a related story, GM’s new Hummer EV division announced that its all-electric super truck will debut later this fall and will begin production in fall 2021. Details about the GMC HUMMER EV’s remarkable on- and off-road capabilities will be shared soon.

GM says that despite the pandemic, product development work on GM’s future EV and AV portfolios continues to progress at a rapid pace. Next up is the Cadillac LYRIQ show car debut. GM reports that both the LYRIQ and GMC HUMMER EV are on track.