Hundreds of GM employees got a nasty surprise at the end of October when the automaker filed its mandatory “WARN Notice” with the Tennessee Department of Labor. As of Jan. 5, they’ll be out of a job. And there’s no guarantee they’ll return to building EV batteries at any point in 2026.

GM’s Ultium Cells plant in Memphis plans to throttle production in early 2026. According to the state, this means 710 workers represented by the United Auto Workers union will be out of work. They’ll be eligible for state unemployment, and the state government says it will offer additional support services.

The bigger picture: these Ultium batteries were destined for vehicles such as the Hummer EV, GMC Sierra EV, Chevrolet Silverado EV, and Cadillac Escalade IQ. GM assembled these large electric trucks and SUVs at its Factory Zero plant in Detroit.

A slowdown in EV demand triggers layoffs across states

Large EVs haven’t been selling well. They’re expensive, and charging on long roadtrips can be a pain. GM shuttered Factory Zero in late October and laid off all 3,300 workers. It briefly brought back two shifts for several weeks. But as the Tennessee plant slows down, Factory Zero will permanently lay off 1,140 Michigan workers.

GM still builds a handful of EVs. The redesigned Chevrolet Volt will arrive as a 2027 model. It’s more in line with current demand, but CEO Mary Barra announced it’s a “Limited Edition.” Sadly, the outlook for the Tennessee Ultium battery plant doesn’t look promising.