General Motors is pursuing early-stage development of battery cells designed to minimize dependence on Chinese materials and supply chains, according to Kurt Kelty, the company’s vice president of battery and sustainability. GM aims to establish domestically sourced materials within the next two to three years, with plans to prioritize domestic battery cell production for both energy storage systems and future electric vehicles.
The announcement comes as Ford Motor faces scrutiny from the Trump administration over its partnerships with Chinese companies, particularly regarding battery cell production. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed concern this week about Ford’s licensing agreement with Chinese battery manufacturer CATL, despite Ford’s position as the top vehicle-producing automaker in the U.S.
GM has partnered with Denver-based startup Peak Energy to develop sodium-ion battery cells that utilize more readily available materials in the U.S., such as sodium from soda ash, rather than relying on materials China dominates, including lithium and ferrous sulfate. The company expects to launch commercial production of these sodium-ion cells around 2029. Meanwhile, GM is manufacturing other battery chemistries with undisclosed amounts of Chinese materials for current ESS and EV applications.
China currently controls approximately 85 percent of global EV battery cathode production and over 90 percent of anode material production, giving the country roughly 80 percent control of battery manufacturing worldwide. GM is investing $900 million in new battery laboratory facilities at its global technology campus near Detroit, including a facility exceeding 500,000 square feet for manufacturing prototypes, expected to begin operations later this year. Battery experts note that developing a fully domestic supply chain will require years of development, though the transition away from Chinese dependency is viewed as feasible and strategically important for U.S. economic interests.
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