GM made a couple big announcements at their press conference today, at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. The first announcement being that they are building a battery pack assembly factory in Michigan.

While lithium-ion cells for the new Chevy Volt will be supplied by LG Chem of South Korea, the full battery packs will be assembled in a plant to be built this year in Michigan.

Also to be built in Michigan by GM later this year, is a new battery lab. The 31,000 square foot lab will be the largest of its kind in the world. Interestingly, once the lab is completed it will be made available for testing the batteries of all advanced battery manufacturers.

Apparently any company that develops new cells will be allowed to bring them to the new GM lab for testing. A total evaluation of the cells will be performed for free and all data will be given to the cells’ manufacturers. Ideally this will improve advanced battery development on a large scale. GM will benefit from overall improved battery performance and reduced costs.