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Ultium Cells to Furlough 700 Spring Hill Workers Amid Temporary Production Pause

Issue #599

October 30, 2025

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

☀️ Columbia’s Thursday Weather - Sunny w/ high of 63, low of 38

📰 Ultium Cells to Furlough 700 Spring Hill Workers Amid Temporary Production Pause

🥞 November 8th: Columbia Noon Rotary’s Pancake Day Fundraiser

🗓 List of Upcoming Events
 
🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Read Last Week’s Local Business Spotlight! 👇
From Army Boots to Circuit Breakers: The Story Behind Mr. Electric of Columbia 

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Ultium Cells to Furlough 700 Spring Hill Workers Amid Temporary Production Pause

Ultium Cells plans to furlough about 700 employees at its Spring Hill, Tennessee, battery plant as the company prepares for a temporary production pause beginning in January 2026, according to reports from Reuters.

The Spring Hill facility, a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution, will suspend operations through midyear while adjusting to broader shifts in the electric vehicle market. The pause follows a July announcement detailing the companies’ $2.3 billion partnership to develop low-cost lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells — a key step in GM’s long-term EV strategy.

The move comes amid signs of slowing electric vehicle demand and a changing regulatory environment. In addition to the Spring Hill furloughs, Ultium Cells’ Warren, Ohio, facility will implement a similar production halt, placing 850 workers on furlough and permanently laying off about 550 others.

GM has also initiated broader workforce reductions. Despite posting strong quarterly earnings last week, the automaker has begun cutting hundreds of jobs — including 300 employees from its Warren, Michigan Technical Center and 200 from its Georgia IT Innovation Center. The company described the changes as part of its annual organizational review.

The adjustments at Ultium Cells follow earlier production slowdowns at GM’s Spring Hill assembly plant, where roughly half of its 1,400 shift workers were temporarily furloughed in September as EV production was scaled back. That plant also experienced downtime during October, Thanksgiving week, and December as the automaker recalibrated its output to match current demand.

While Ultium Cells’ workforce was not directly affected by those earlier furloughs, recent developments have created additional strain. Following a September Homeland Security raid at a Hyundai-LG battery facility in Georgia, several Korean workers reportedly left the U.S., impacting operations at Ultium’s Spring Hill site.

The combined actions reflect GM’s broader effort to balance its investment in electric vehicle technology with near-term realities of a market that is expanding more slowly than expected.

November 8th: Columbia Noon Rotary’s Pancake Day Fundraiser

Since 1959, the Columbia Noon Rotary Club has been flipping pancakes and serving smiles across Maury County. This year’s Pancake Day will be held on Saturday, November 8th, from 6:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Memorial Building on West 7th Street in downtown Columbia.

Guests can enjoy a delicious breakfast of homemade pancakes, sausage, and a choice of beverage. Most folks enjoy dining in and visiting with neighbors, but carryout options will also be available.

“Pancake Day is the Noon Rotary Club’s largest fundraiser and allows us to serve youth and families in the Maury County community through our club projects,” said Connie Massey, Pancake Day Co-Chair. “This fundraiser is a long-standing tradition, and club members are proud to say we’ve made our pancakes from scratch for more than 60 years!”

Proceeds from Pancake Day help support some of the club’s most impactful service projects. Each year, Columbia Noon Rotary provides over $12,000 in scholarships to area high school students. The club also proudly sponsors Boy Scout Troop 103, which has produced more than 50 Eagle Scouts since 1960.

Tickets are $10 each or three for $25, and can be purchased in advance from any Noon Rotarian or at the door on Pancake Day. Children ages 6 and under eat free!

Columbia noon rotary started in 1924 and has served the Maury County community for over 100 years through community service projects and programs that enhance youth education and leadership training. To learn more about Columbia Noon Rotary, you can visit their website, facebook or instagram.

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Friday, October 31st

Saturday, November 1st ⏰ SET CLOCKS BACK ONE HOUR TONIGHT!

Sunday, November 2nd

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

🎵 This Week’s Live Music


Friday, October 31st

Brendan Gentry – Buck & Board, 5–8 PM
The Smithstons – Twisted Copper Brewing Co., 7 PM
South Bound Crows – Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM

Saturday, November 1st

Halloween Karaoke – McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 6–10 PM
Fall Series – The Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM
Ryan Stevenson – The Mulehouse, 8 PM
MFT – Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM

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