By Kate Yuan

(JW Insights) Sep 11 -- China’s leading battery maker Gotion High-tech (国轩高科) will invest $2 billion to build an electric vehicle battery factory in Kankakee County, Illinois, the official website of the US’ Illinois state government announced on September 8.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said that the plant will create 2,600 new jobs, and is the "most significant new manufacturing investment in decades" for the state. The factory, which will focus on the production of lithium-ion battery cells, battery packs, and energy storage systems, will receive $536 million in incentives provided by the state.

The factory is expected to produce 10 gigawatt-hours of lithium-ion battery packs and 40 gigawatt-hours of lithium-ion battery cells. Production is scheduled to commence next year.

Previously, Gotion had planned to invest $2.4 billion to build a factory in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Earlier this week, US power equipment manufacturer Cummins announced that it will establish a battery plant in the US in collaboration with Daimler Truck AG, truck manufacturer PACCAR, and China’s EVE Energy.

Established in 1995 and headquartered in Hefei, eastern China’s Anhui Province, Gotion High-tech focuses on power battery systems, energy storage battery systems, and power transmission and distribution. It has already completed several energy storage projects both in China and overseas.

Since 2020, Gotion has started cooperation with Volkswagen Group. In 2022, it officially became a battery supplier for Volkswagen in China, providing standard battery cells including lithium iron phosphate and ternary lithium.

It has also established and maintained stable strategic partnerships with several other automakers and energy storage companies, including Dongfeng Motor Corporation, JAC Group, Great Wall Motor, and Changan Automobile.