GM Promises EV Profitability in 3 Years With Breakthrough Battery Launch Planned for 2028

By Trey Thoelcke Published Feb 9, 9:35AM EST

Quick Read

General Motors (GM) will launch LMR battery chemistry in 2028 to reduce cell and pack costs by several thousand dollars.
GM expects EV profitability within three to five years despite current losses requiring support from gasoline-powered vehicle sales.

Follow 24/7 Wall St. on Google

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

GM Promises EV Profitability in 3 Years With Breakthrough Battery Launch Planned for 2028 — © 3alexd / iStock via Getty Images

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM | GM Price Prediction) is doubling down on battery technology leadership with a breakthrough chemistry launch planned for 2028, even as the automaker absorbs $7.2 billion in special charges from scaling back EV capacity. The high-stakes bet could position GM to leapfrog competitors or leave it stranded with billions in sunk costs.

CEO Mary Barra revealed that GM’s proprietary LMR battery chemistry will “reduce cell and pack costs by several thousand dollars” when it launches in 2028. The technology represents a critical piece of GM’s path to EV profitability, which the company expects to achieve within three to five years, despite current losses that must be absorbed by profitable gasoline-powered trucks and SUVs.

The timing is precarious. GM took massive restructuring charges in Q3 and Q4 2025 after reassessing EV capacity following the elimination of federal EV tax credits in reconciliation legislation signed that year. The company sold its stake in the Ultium Cells Lansing battery plant and discontinued BrightDrop electric van production, signaling a pivot from aggressive expansion to cost discipline.

Yet GM isn’t retreating from battery innovation. Management confirmed continued investment in “cost reduction like LMR” at significantly lower levels than previous EV spending. The company plans $10 billion to $12 billion in annual capex for 2026, with roughly half allocated to onshoring and software development.

The stock has responded positively, up 77.56% over the past year to $84.24. Investors appear to be betting on GM’s ability to balance near-term profitability with long-term technology leadership. The company reinforced that confidence with a 20% dividend increase and $6 billion buyback program.

The company’s strategy carries significant execution risk. GM’s ability to deliver on LMR’s cost promises, while also managing uncertainty in EV demand, will determine whether its battery investments provide a competitive advantage or become stranded assets as competitors continue to scale proven lithium-ion platforms.

About the Author Trey Thoelcke →

Trey has been an editor and author at 24/7 Wall St. for more than a decade, where he has published thousands of articles analyzing corporate earnings, dividend stocks, short interest, insider buying, private equity, and market trends. His comprehensive coverage spans the full spectrum of financial markets, from blue-chip stalwarts to emerging growth companies.

Beyond 24/7 Wall St., Trey has created and edited financial content for Benzinga and AOL's BloggingStocks, contributing additional hundreds of articles to the investment community. He previously oversaw the 24/7 Climate Insights site, managing editorial operations and content strategy, and currently oversees and creates content for My Investing News.

Trey's editorial expertise extends across multiple publishing environments. He served as production editor at Dearborn Financial Publishing and development editor at Kaplan, where he helped shape financial education materials. Earlier in his career, he worked as a writer-producer at SVE. His freelance editing portfolio includes work for prestigious clients such as Sage Publications, Rand McNally, the Institute for Supply Management, the American Library Association, Eggplant Literary Productions, and Spiegel.

Outside of financial journalism, Trey writes fiction and has been an active member of the writing community for years, overseeing a long-running critique group and moderating workshop sessions at regional conventions. He lives with his family in an old house in the Midwest.