GM Set to Produce First Round of Chevy Volt Battery Packs

General Motors announced that it will begin producing its custom lithium-ion battery packs for the Chevy Volt on January 7th. When the assembly plant in Brownstown Township, Michigan begins operations in two days, it will mark the first time a U.S. automaker has operated a battery pack factory in America.

GM’s plan is to import lithium-ion battery cells from Korea’s Compact Power and assemble them into the Chevy Volt packs in Michigan. Having received $241 million in federal stimulus funds, the company is spending about $106 million on its battery pack factory. This effort will boost employment opportunities for people in the hard-hit Detroit Metro Area. Additionally, the vehicle and its four-cylinder engine will also be be assembled at two separate facilities in the local area.