To address the need for a US-based lithium-ion battery supply chain NOVONIX will invest approximately $160 million to expand its manufacturing operations in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The project is expected to create 290 jobs in Hamilton County.

NOVONIX plans to purchase and retrofit the former Alstom building, which will be the company’s second facility in Chattanooga. The 400,000+-square-foot plant will accommodate a planned 8,000+-tonne per year production operation and will join the existing operations located where the company has been since 2019.

“We are excited to be announcing this next phase of expansion of our anode materials business in Tennessee. Chattanooga has been a great location for our operations over the past four years, and we look forward to growing the company in the expanding south-east hub of electric vehicle battery manufacturing. We look forward to continuing to work with the great people in Chattanooga, Hamilton County and the State of Tennessee as we help establish the domestic supply chain of key materials for the lithium-ion battery sector,” said Chris Burns, CEO, NOVONIX.

NOVONIX established its anode materials business, PUREgraphite, in March 2017 to develop and commercialize ultra-long-life, high performance anode material for the lithium-ion battery market, specifically for electric vehicles and similar storage applications.

“The automotive industry is shifting to an all-electric future, and we are focused on supporting companies that boost Tennessee’s presence in the EV space. NOVONIX’s decision to increase US-based lithium-ion battery production from Chattanooga is an enormous vote of confidence to the region and its business landscape. We thank NOVONIX for its continued investment and job creation in Tennessee,” said TNECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe.