GM to reject foreign manufacturers, build own batteries

[HoosierRon]

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GM to build their own batteries, seeks new employee

Even though some battery companies out there are looking for more business GM doesn't want to have to depend on foreign companies or distant production facilities for its power packs. At least that seemed the message the Wall Street Journal seemed to get from recent trips to Washington by Detroit execs.

So what's the solution? Perhaps the number one Detroit automaker is going to take it upon itself to build its own batteries. Although it hasn't made any public announcements to that effect it does seem they are soliciting a new employee who's job-to-be description includes, "Manufacturing Engineering lead for the creation of a battery manufacturing plant assembly process and first implementation execution."

U.S. Auto Makers Target Battery Gap With Japan

General Motors Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner, appearing on Capitol Hill, called on Congress to support advanced-battery development in the U.S., which he said lags far behind the government-supported development efforts in Japan and South Korea.

The market for advanced automotive batteries is expected to grow to between $30 billion and $40 billion a year by 2020, compared with today's $900 million market for hybrid batteries, according to Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

Detroit executives say that by helping to narrow the battery-development gap, a federal-loan package would further the goal of U.S. energy security in addition to aiding the country's auto industry. The executives argue that failure to develop a competitive battery industry domestically could create a new energy dependency for the U.S. by making it reliant on foreign-made batteries, even as it seeks to reduce its dependence on imported oil.

"Moving from imported oil to imported batteries" wouldn't address the nation's energy-security concerns, said Mark Fields, head of Ford Motor Co. operations in the Americas, speaking recently in Washington. "Bold and dramatic incentives are needed to accelerate the commercial development of high-energy power batteries right here in the U.S."

[ChevroletRevived]

Excellent! It'd be very smart if America would get moving on battery technology so we don't fall irreversibly behind. Glad to see GM and Ford advocating this. It would be great to see the batteries for these cars developed and built right here in America. How cool would that be!

[Astra RL]

Keeping even more of the car local good work GM. Hopefully they get someone that is qualified and capable of holding the job.

[GMusa]

This is awesome! Hopfully it will help Americans stay ahead on battery tech.!

[plane]

It's time to bring the jobs back home and rebuild North America.
We've bent over backwards to move the rest of the world forward.
Now let's get back to business.

[CharlotteFirebird]

And in related news, I reject Toyota and Honda.

[ChevroletRevived]

Originally Posted by plane

It's time to bring the jobs back home and rebuild North America.
We've bent over backwards to move the rest of the world forward.
Now let's get back to business.

Yeah, we need to start "nation building" in our own country!

[YupYupYup]

Great news! You cannot trust Japanese companies, since they are still very nationalistic no matter how much they say they want to "work with" a foreign company. This will not change given their culture. GM also needs more batteries to meet demand for the Volt and upcoming interations, so it cannot rely on just one supplier.

[kenman923]

So GM is telling the battery manufacturers, "Thanks but no thanks. If we want batteries we will make them ourselves."

[460ford]

I am assuming this is part of the joint powertrain developement that Ford and GM agreed to a few months back?

[FenwickHockey65]

Good for GM! Way to keep jobs in the country!

[2648562]

Originally Posted by CharlotteFirebird

And in related news, I reject Toyota and Honda.

LOL. That's the best laugh I've had all day.

[eb110americana]

Originally Posted by 460ford

I am assuming this is part of the joint powertrain development that Ford and GM agreed to a few months back?

That would be awesome! If GM, Ford, and Chrysler co-developed and produced a world-beating Li-ion battery pack and then used that technology to dominate the market, we might see a resurgence of the big 3. I can always dream, right...?

[stormwatcher]

GM is hiring one new employee and that suddenly means they are in the battery business?

[FStephenMasek]

Rather than cutting costs, GM and Ford have given up more than they gained by buying, rather than making, their parts. This may represent a return to common sense. They will surely use enough batteries that they should be making them, and they will surely have both the incentive and the staff to be at least as innovative as any other company.