GM to build EV assembly plant

General Motors has announced a $2.2 billion investment for a dedicated electric vehicle assembly plant at Detroit-Hamtramck.

The company says it will produce a variety of electric trucks and SUVs with the first electric pickup to go into production in late 2021.

This will be followed by its electric-autonomous Cruise Origin which was recently unveiled in San Francisco.

“Through this investment, GM is taking a big step forward in making our vision of an all-electric future a reality,” GM president Mark Reuss says.

“Our electric pickup will be the first of multiple electric truck variants we will build at Detroit-Hamtramck over the next few years.”

The plant is expected to create more than 2200 jobs when fully operational. GM will 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.

GM’s joint venture with LG Chem – which is investing $2.3b 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,” Reuss says.

“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.”

Detroit-Hamtramck currently operates on one shift of production and builds the Cadillac CT6 and the Chevrolet Impala. Around 900 people are currently employed at the plant.

The plant will come to a halt for several months beginning at the end of February as the renovations begin.

Detroit-Hamtramck has built more than 4 million vehicles since opening in 1985.