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3w ago

GM Taps China’s CATL for Two-Year Battery Stopgap to Keep Bolt on Track

GM will import LFP batteries under Trump-era tariffs for two years to maintain the Bolt’s release timetable during its U.S. plant build-out with LG Energy Solution.

The new GM logo is seen on the facade of the General Motors headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., March 16, 2021. Picture taken March 16, 2021. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo
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The New Chevy Bolt's EV Batteries Will Come From China: Chevrolet Bolt EV, Battery Tech
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Overview

  • GM will source lithium-iron-phosphate cells from CATL for about two years starting late 2025 to power the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt at its Fairfax, Kansas, plant.
  • The move comes despite Trump-era tariffs on Chinese imports and reflects cost pressures to deliver a sub-$30,000 EV with safety and range improvements under GM’s Ultium platform.
  • GM’s CEO has promised the new Bolt will offer longer range, faster charging and a redesigned look, making it the first Ultium-based model in North America to launch with LFP chemistry.
  • The temporary CATL deal buys time for GM’s partnership with LG Energy Solution to ramp up domestic battery production estimated to start in 2027.
  • The reliance on Chinese battery technology underscores ongoing vulnerabilities in the U.S. EV supply chain and heightens scrutiny over forced-labor and critical material sourcing.