LG Chem plans to increase production at its battery plant in Holland (Michigan, United States) to serve more automotive customers, according to a press release. Currently, the USD303-million plant supplies battery cells for General Motors' (GM) 2016 Chevrolet Volt (second-generation). The plant expects to add 70-90 employees to its workforce of more than 300 in the next six months, Jeremy Hagemeyer, LG Chem Michigan Inc (LGCMI) human resources manager, was quoted by Hollandsentinel.com.
Significance: The company is hiring additional workers as a fourth production line was assembled earlier this year; a total of five are possible in the facility. With the additional work force, LGCMI plans to change from two 12-hour shifts to three shifts, with production six days a week, Hagemeyer said in the Hollandsentinel.com report. Earlier this month, GM announced a wide-ranging partnership with LG to produce batteries for the Bolt EV, due on sale in late 2016, and the first time GM integrated full EV component supplier so early in vehicle development. The partnership between GM and LG Chem has helped increase production further at the facility, which was fined in early 2013 by the federal government after its idle workers were paid despite a lack of production, since the Volt battery production had not yet shifted from South Korea.
