GM Announces Brand’s First-Ever EV-Only Plant in Detroit

General Motors is putting in USD 2.2 billion (approx. PHP 111.7 billion) to improve the Detroit Hamtramck Assembly plant, set to be a state-of-the-art car manufacturing facility for exclusively building the brand’s electric and self-driving cars.

GM said that the plant will have a 2,200-strong workforce to ensure the American brand’s readiness to meet the industry’s growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs).

“Through this investment, GM is taking a big step forward in making our vision of an all-electric future a reality,” said Mark Reuss, GM president, during a press event at the plant with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other local and state officials. “Our electric pickup will be the first of multiple electric truck variants we will build at Detroit-Hamtramck over the next few years.”

Aside from creating 2,200 good-paying US manufacturing jobs, GM will also invest USD 800 million (PHP 40.6 billion) in supplier tooling and other projects related to the launch of the new electric trucks.

Since midyear of 2018, GM has committed to investing over USD 2.5 billion (PHP 126.9 billion) in the state of Michigan to bring electric vehicles to market through investments in various Michigan sites including Orion, Warren, Brownstown, and more recently, Detroit-Hamtramck.

GM’s joint venture with Korean chemical company LG Chem—which is investing USD 2.3 billion (PHP 116.77 billion) to manufacture battery cells in Lordstown, Ohio—will supply battery cells for the electric vehicles to be built at Detroit-Hamtramck.

In addition, the plant’s body and paint and general assembly departments will receive comprehensive upgrades, including new machines, conveyors, controls and tooling.

Detroit-Hamtramck currently operates on one shift of production and employs 900 people to build the brand’s Cadillac CT6 and the Chevrolet Impala models. To give way to the renovations, operations at the plant will be put on hold for several months, beginning at the end of February.

Since its opening in 1985, the Detroit-Hamtramck plant has built more than 4 million vehicles for the GM brand.

GM is the company behind well-known American car brands such as Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Holden. The US-based company has expanded its profile to include Chinese automotive makes such as Baojun  and Wuling.

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