LG Energy Solution begins hiring process as $1.7B expansion takes shape

With a $1.7 billion expansion in the works, LG Energy Solution Michigan (LGES Michigan) plans to grow its current 1,500-person workforce by 1,000 employees. 

A recent career fair welcomed veterans, active military members, and their families to learn about open positions suited to their skills and abilities.

“LG Energy Solution Michigan is a company that appreciates high work ethic and the ability to lead; our veterans fit in very well here,” says senior recruiter Terry Ferrier, “It’s important to find supportive people after your time in the service.”

Hiring events continue

The veteran career fair is just one of the summer hiring events hosted by LGES Michigan. Beginning in July, the company will also host weekly open interviews on Thursdays from 8:30–11:30 a.m. and 1–4:30 p.m. at the facility in Holland.

In addition to summer hiring, LGES Michigan will open up hiring for its expansion later this year to fill the more than 1,000 jobs that will create. 

LGES Michigan is making significant progress on its $1.7 billion expansion to meet the ever-increasing demand for electric vehicles, or EVs, in the U.S. and global markets. EVs will make up about half of new car sales worldwide by 2035, according to Goldman Sachs Research.

LGES Michigan placed the last piece of steel on the nearly 1.7-million-square-foot structure in late May. The construction team is on track to complete the expansion by 2024, and mass production is slated to begin in 2025. When complete, this new facility will feature state-of-the-art manufacturing, testing, and warehouse capabilities, and will be highly automated. It will increase the lithium-ion battery production capacity from 5GWh to 25GWh. 

A smart factory

The new facility, announced in 2022, is being built as a smart factory, which will digitalize and streamline battery manufacturing technologies, bolster battery quality, and maximize the efficiency of the manufacturing supply chain.

“We’re excited to be taking the next steps in opening our second plant. Not only will it invigorate the local economy, but it further establishes Michigan as a central player in electric vehicle manufacturing and sustainable energy. By powering EV today, we are preserving tomorrow,” says Oh Young “Charles” Hyun, LG Energy Solution Michigan president.

The construction project has shifted its focus to the interior and exterior finishes, installation of mechanical and electrical systems, and other final touches that will bring the building to completion.

Once complete, the new plant will mark another big milestone in the more than 10-year history of LGES Michigan — America’s first gigafactory and the symbol of LG Energy Solution’s long-standing history in the United States. LGES Michigan is one of seven manufacturing facilities that LG Energy Solution has secured in the U.S. since establishing the first U.S. battery R&D facility in 2000. 

Industry-leading corporation

Leading the American battery industry for more than 20 years, LG Energy Solution currently has two stand-alone facilities, LGES Michigan and a new facility under construction in Arizona. It also has five joint-venture facilities currently operating or under construction. Three with General Motors, one with Honda, and one with Hyundai. Once all constructions are complete, the annual U.S. production capacity is expected to reach 278GWh.

Capitalizing on its long business history in the country, strong local production network, and fast adoption of smart factory technologies, LG Energy Solution aims to expedite the transition to EVs and clean energy in the U.S., and also foster next-generation battery professionals who will lead the future advancements in the industry.

LG Energy Solution Michigan locations include the cities of Holland, Hazel Park, and Troy, with the largest facility in Holland with 1,500 employees.

With such efforts toward establishing a local production network and supply chain, LG Energy Solution’s batteries, manufactured and sold this year, fulfill the Inflation Reduction Act requirement for both battery components (50%) and critical minerals (40%). Therefore, EVs equipped with LGES batteries are expected to be eligible for the full $7,500 EV tax credits this year.