GM Confirms Detroit Plant Going All-Electric Next Year
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General Motors Co. affirmed plans to build electric pickups and SUVs at its Detroit-Hamtramck plant and scheduled the start of production for late next year.
Output of electric Cruise Origin driverless vehicles will follow soon after the initial pickups roll off the line, GM said in a statement Jan. 27. The automaker committed to investing $2.2 billion in the factory as part of the labor agreement reached last year with the United Auto Workers union.
In part one of a two-part exploration of autonomous technology today, our latest RoadSigns podcast revisits conversations with CEOs Alex Rodrigues of Embark and Cetin Mericli of Locomation. Hear them explain what testing automated trucks and developing platooning technology has taught them about the road ahead — and get new perspective with host commentary. Listen to a snippet from Rodrigues above, and to hear the full episode, go to RoadSigns.TTNews.com.
GM will spend another $800 million on supplier tooling and projects related to the trucks. The investments will give the factory new life after facing possible closure as part of a restructuring announced in late 2018. Once fully operational, the plant will employ 2,200 workers.
“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,” GM President Mark Reuss said in the statement.
GM plans to build a family of electric vehicles at Detroit-Hamtramck, including a Hummer truck that will be sold by GMC dealers, people familiar with the matter said earlier this month.
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