General Motors has entered into a multi-year agreement with Norway’s Vianode for the supply of synthetic graphite anode material for electric vehicle batteries. This deal is set to run from 2027 to 2033, coinciding with Vianode’s plan to commence production of synthetic graphite at a new North American plant. The material will be utilized in battery cells manufactured by the Ultium Cells LLC joint venture between GM and battery supplier LG Energy Solution.
2026 Cadillac Vistiq
China currently controls 95% of the global graphite supply, prompting Western automakers and governments to seek alternative sources for this crucial material in electric vehicle battery production. Vianode’s new plant aims to be “IRA compliant,” ensuring that the battery materials produced there meet the requirements for the federal EV tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act.
2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali
The Vianode CEO mentioned that the plant, expected to produce 80,000 tons of synthetic graphite by 2030, will be situated in either the U.S. or Canada. GM has also made strategic changes to its battery plans, including selling its stake in the Ultium Cells LLC Michigan plant to LG and extending its technical partnership to encompass prismatic cells.