Even without LG, GM may proceed with $2.5 billion EV battery plant in St. Joseph County with new partner

Plans for a $2.5 billion EV battery plant proposed for western St. Joseph County are still on the table, but General Motors might have to move forward with a different partner. 

GM and LG Energy Solution were planning to build a fourth Ultium Cells plant on 680 acres at Larrison Boulevard and Indiana 2, but the Wall Street Journal reported Friday that talks between the two companies stalled on the fourth plant. 

Offer on the table:St. Joseph County approves deal in effort to reel in $2.5B Ultium battery plant

"We're still optimistic about it," said Jeff Rea, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County. "I think we're still part of GM's future, but I don't know about the other partner."

LG Energy executives were reportedly hesitant to commit to the project because of the rapid pace of investments with GM and other automakers as well as the overall state of the economy, according to the Journal. 

Bill Schalliol, the county’s executive director of economic development, said GM is committed to the project because it needs the batteries to keep up with its ambitious goal of phasing out internal combustion engines by 2035.