General Motors has invested $2.2 billion in its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant to produce a variety of all-electric trucks and SUVs. Detroit-Hamtramck will be GM’s first fully-dedicated electric vehicle assembly plant.
GM’s first all-electric truck will be a pickup, with production scheduled to begin in late 2021. This will be followed soon after by the Cruise Origin, a shared, electric, self-driving vehicle unveiled by Cruise in San Francisco.
“Through this investment, GM is taking a big step forward in making our vision of an all-electric future a reality,” says Mark Reuss, president of GM. “Our electric pickup will be the first of multiple electric truck variants we will build at Detroit-Hamtramck over the next few years.”
GM will also invest an additional $800 million in supplier tooling and other projects related to the launch of the new electric trucks. The plant’s paint and body shops and general assembly area will receive comprehensive upgrades, including new machines, conveyors, controls and tooling. When the plant is fully operational, this investment will create more than 2,200 good-paying U.S. manufacturing jobs.
Since the fall of 2018, GM has committed to invest more than $2.5 billion in Michigan to bring electric vehicles to market through investments at Orion assembly, GM battery lab in Warren and Detroit-Hamtramck.
GM’s joint venture with LG Chem – which is investing $2.3 billion to manufacture battery cells in Lordstown, Ohio, will supply battery cells for the electric vehicles manufactured at Detroit-Hamtramck.
“The support from the state of Michigan was a key element in making this investment possible. This investment helps ensure that Michigan will remain at the epicenter of the global automotive industry as we continue our journey to an electrified future,” adds Reuss.
Detroit-Hamtramck currently operates on one shift of production and builds the Cadillac CT6 and the Chevrolet Impala. Approximately 900 people are employed at the plant. As previously confirmed, the plant will be idled for several months beginning at the end of February 2020 as the renovations begin.
The plant has built more than 4 million vehicles since opening in 1985. Hourly employees at Detroit-Hamtramck are represented by UAW Local 22.
Photo: Mark Reuss announces GM’s electric plans
