GM said in October 2024 that it would phase out the Ultium name for its EV batteries and technologies as it shifted from a common battery approach to choices tailored to individual vehicle programs. The announcement did not mean GM was shutting down battery operations: the company said Ultium would remain in use for joint-venture manufacturing sites and other facilities. By September 2026, GM was still using the name Ultium Cells LLC for its battery joint venture.
What GM changed—and what it did not
The change was about branding and strategy, not the end of GM’s battery business. GM said it would sunset Ultium branding for EV batteries and technologies while continuing to use Ultium for its joint-venture manufacturing sites and other facilities. Ars Technica reported the announcement on October 9, 2024, including comments from GM battery executive Kurt Kelty.
Public use of the name has not disappeared uniformly. GM’s EV glossary, accessed October 8, 2026, still defines Ultium broadly as a brand for next-generation batteries, drive units, and platform. And GM’s September 29, 2026, announcement referred to its GM–LG Energy Solution joint venture as Ultium Cells LLC. These uses do not establish that GM reversed the branding transition; they show that the name remains in some company, facility, and public-facing contexts.
Why GM moved toward program-specific batteries
Kelty said GM was moving away from a single battery recipe meant to work across many vehicles and toward batteries selected for individual vehicle programs. As Ars Technica quoted him on October 9, 2024: “It now makes business sense to transition from one-size-fits-all to new program-specific batteries.”
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That approach leaves room for GM to choose different battery chemistries and cell formats for different applications. Ars Technica reported that GM planned to study cylindrical and prismatic cells alongside pouch cells. GM’s later plans for lithium manganese rich (LMR) prismatic cells are one example of this wider set of options, rather than evidence that one chemistry or cell shape will suit every vehicle.
Ultium was broader than a battery cell
When GM introduced Ultium in March 2020, it described the batteries as part of a flexible, third-generation EV platform. The term could therefore refer to more than a cell chemistry: the original announcement connected it to batteries and the vehicle platform, while GM’s current glossary also includes drive units. Those are distinct things—a cell is a component, a pack combines cells, and a platform is the vehicle architecture built to accommodate systems such as the battery and drive units.
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GM’s 2020 release presented the platform as flexible, with company-stated targets including battery options from 50 to 200 kWh, range of up to 400 miles or more, and specified charging capabilities. Those were launch-era targets, not verified outcomes for GM’s current vehicle lineup.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What GM’s 2026 LMR plan tells us
On September 29, 2026, GM announced plans to add production of prismatic LMR cells at its Spring Hill facility. The company said the cells were designed to provide 33% greater energy density than LFP batteries at comparable cost. That is GM’s design claim, not an independently verified production result; the announcement did not establish that the cells were already in production or available in vehicles.
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GM said construction and upgrades at the facility were expected to be completed in 2028. The company projected 500 new jobs from the work and reported a current Spring Hill workforce of 1,200 employees. These are company projections and a company-reported workforce figure, not independently verified outcomes.
Quick Recap
How to read the transition
- Brand: GM announced a sunset of Ultium branding for EV batteries and technologies, but some current corporate and public-facing uses remain.
- Strategy: GM described a shift from a broadly shared battery approach to battery choices matched to vehicle programs.
- Technology: Chemistry (such as LFP or planned LMR) and cell format (such as pouch or prismatic) are different attributes; neither is interchangeable with the Ultium name.
- Status: GM’s LMR announcement describes a future plan and company projections, not independently verified production results.
Sources
- Ars Technica, October 9, 2024: GM’s Ultium branding transition
- General Motors Investor Relations, March 4, 2020: Original Ultium launch framing
- General Motors News, September 29, 2026: Planned LMR prismatic-cell production
- General Motors EV glossary, accessed October 8, 2026
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