General Motors Co. on Tuesday announced plans to make cheaper battery cells for electric trucks and SUVs at a U.S. plant beginning in 2028.

The Detroit automaker says it will begin commercial production of lithium manganese-rich cells at an Ultium Cells plants in Ohio or Tennessee. Ultium Cells is a joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solution.

The announcement comes amid pressure from President Donald Trump to increase U.S. manufacturing, particularly in the auto industry, by levying high import taxes. Increased production also would reduce reliance on low-cost batteries made in China.

GM touted its new battery cells as cheaper to make than the nickel-rich cells currently in use but with similar range thanks to a higher-percentage of less-expensive manganese. GM said trucks using the cells will have a 400-mile range.

“We’re pioneering manganese-rich battery technology to unlock premium range and performance at an affordable cost, especially in electric trucks,” Kurt Kelty, vice president of battery, propulsion and sustainability at GM, said in a statement.

Part of GM's long-term strategy for an all-electric fleet by 2035 includes making less-expensive battery cells and ramping up production.

The market for EVs is slowly growing, but most U.S. drivers still prefer gas-powered vehicles. Range anxiety, expensive price tags and limited infrastructure to support charging stations remain barriers for customers.

GM last month scaled back production to match dragging EV sales at its Factory Zero Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center, which makes all-electric SUVs and trucks.

Still, total GM sales of EVs nearly doubled in the first three months of 2025 compared to the same time last year, with a little less than 32,000 vehicles sold this year versus more than 16,000 sold in 2024.

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