GM's Fourth-Generation EV Platform: LMR Cells Only, 20 % More Range per kWh
General Motors has shown the fourth generation of its electric vehicle platform at its GM Forward event in New York. The new architecture will launch exclusively with lithium manganese-rich (LMR) battery cells and is aimed at high-volume models such as crossovers, GM president Mark Reuss said.
Key takeaways
- GM's next EV platform uses only LMR cells at launch, made from 2028 at Spring Hill, Tennessee.
- GM claims 20 % more range per kWh, 15 % less weight and 25 % better aerodynamics.
- Motors and power electronics use about 40 % fewer parts.
- A new central computer debuts in the Cadillac Escalade IQ from the 2028 model year.
LMR battery cells only
"We will start off exclusively with LMR in this Gen Four," Reuss said. LMR cells use more manganese and less nickel and cobalt than today's high-nickel cells. GM and its battery partner say LMR offers up to 33 % more energy density than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) at a similar cost. The cells are prismatic and flat, which lets designers build a lower body without losing cabin space.
The cells will be produced from 2028 at the Ultium Cells plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee, the joint venture of GM and LG Energy Solution. Before building a single prototype cell, GM simulated more than 300,000 battery designs; Reuss said this took 300 million CPU hours.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Revealed | GM Forward event, New York, October 2026 |
| Battery chemistry | LMR only at launch, prismatic flat cells |
| Range per kWh | Up to 20 % more (GM claim) |
| Vehicle weight | 15 % lower |
| Aerodynamics | 25 % better |
| Drive unit parts | About 40 % fewer |
| Development time | About half of the usual five years |
Fewer parts, faster development
GM says it brought designers, engineers and manufacturing staff together from the start instead of working one after the other. This roughly halves the development cycle from five years. More range per kWh means a smaller battery can deliver the same range, and that is where GM expects most of the cost savings.
From 2028, a central computer at the front of the car will replace many smaller control units and handle powertrain, chassis and safety functions. GM says it cuts wiring by 30 % and increases computing power 40-fold. It debuts in the Cadillac Escalade IQ from the 2028 model year, and the same software and electronics will also be used in GM's petrol models.
Which cars and when?
Reuss did not name the first models, but said they would arrive "very soon". Until then, the revived Chevrolet Bolt fills the gap. GM's main market for the platform is North America; the company has not said which models will come to Europe, where it currently sells Cadillac electric models in selected countries.
The move follows Ford's announcement of its own low-cost Universal EV Platform. For European buyers, the most direct effect may be cheaper LMR batteries spreading through the industry. Browse current models in our electric car catalogue.
Photo gallery
Sources
- electrive: GM announces new efficient EV platform (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
- CarExpert: GM's next-generation EV platform detailed, LMR batteries only (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
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